2-oxo-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl sulphonamide cpds and their use as plant growth regulators

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to sulfonamide derivatives of formula (I) where the substituents R1-R6 and R8, L, A and n are as defined in the application, to plant growth regulator compositions comprising them and to methods of using them for controlling the growth of plants, improving plant tolerance to abiotic stress (including environmental and chemical stresses), inhibiting seed germination and/or safening a plant against phytotoxic effects of chemicals.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims under 35 USC 119(e) the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/035,310, filed Aug. 8, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel sulfonamide derivatives, to processes and intermediates for preparing them, to plant growth regulator compositions comprising them and to methods of using them for controlling the growth of plants, improving plant tolerance to abiotic stress (including environmental and chemical stresses), inhibiting seed germination and/or safening a plant against phytotoxic effects of chemicals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant hormone that plays a major role in plant growth, development and response to abiotic stress. ABA causes many of its cellular responses by binding to a soluble family of receptors called PYR/PYL proteins, which contain a ligand-binding pocket for ABA and other agonists. Direct application of ABA to plants has been shown to improve their water use efficiency. However, ABA is difficult and expensive to prepare and itself unstable to environmental conditions and therefor unsuitable for large scale agricultural applications. It is therefore desirable to search for ABA agonists that may be useful for improving plant tolerance to environment stress such as drought, inhibit seed germination, regulate plant growth and improve crop yield.

WO2013/148339 reported a new ABA agonist, quinabactin, which binds to the PYR/PRL receptor proteins and causes an abscisic acid response in vivo. Quinabactin has been shown to induce stomatal closure, suppress of water loss and promote drought tolerance.

There is a need to identify improved agonists of abscisic acid for improving plant growth and development, and plant tolerance to environmental stresses. The present invention relates to novel analogs of quinabactin that have improved properties. Benefits of the compounds of the present invention include enhanced tolerance to abiotic stress, improved inhibition of seed germination, better regulation of crop growth, improved crop yield, and/or improved physical properties resulting in better plant uptake, water solubility, chemical stability or physical stability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides novel sulfonamide derivatives, processes and intermediates for preparing them, compositions comprising them and methods of using them.

In one aspect, the invention provides a compound of Formula (I):

or salts or N-oxides thereof. R1 is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, cyano-alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy-alkyl, haloalkoxy-alkyl, cycloalkyl-alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkynyl, and heterocycloalkyl; or R1 is selected from alkyl-aryl, cycloalkyl, phenyl and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to three Rx. Each Rx is independently selected from halogen, cyano, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylsulfanyl, haloalkylsulfanyl, alkylsulfinyl, haloalkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, haloalkylsulfonyl and cycloalkyl. R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy and cycloalkyl. R2a and R2b, or R2a and R3a, together with the atom to which they are attached, are optionally joined to form a cycloalkyl. L is selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy and alkoxy-alkyl, each optionally substituted with one to three moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano, alkyl and alkoxy. A is cycloalkyl optionally substituted with one to four Ry. Each Ry is independently selected from halogen, cyano, nitro, alkyl, haloalkyl, —OH, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylsulfanyl, haloalkylsulfanyl, alkylsulfinyl, haloalkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, haloalkylsulfonyl, cycloalkyl, ═O, ═N—OH, —N═OMe, COOH, COORS, CONHR9, CONR9aR9 and NHCOR9. When one or more Ry is ═O, ═N—OH or —N═OMe, A is not C₃ cycloalkyl. R9 and R9a are independently alkyl. Each R8 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylsulfanyl, haloalkylsulfanyl, alkylsulfinyl, haloalkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, haloalkylsulfonyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkynyl, cycloalkyl and alkoxy-alkyl. n is selected from 1, 2, and 3.

The compounds of the present invention may exist in different geometric or optical isomers (diastereoisomers and enantiomers) or tautomeric forms. This invention covers all such isomers and tautomers and mixtures thereof in all proportions as well as isotopic forms such as deuterated compounds. The invention also covers all salts, N-oxides, and metalloidic complexes of the compounds of the present invention.

In further aspects, the invention provides formulations of these compounds formulated appropriately for administration to plants and methods of using the compounds and formulations.

Other objects, advantages and aspects of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

Before the invention is described in greater detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to particular embodiments described herein as such embodiments may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and the terminology is not intended to be limiting. The scope of the invention will be limited only by the appended claims. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed within the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges and are also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the invention. Certain ranges are presented herein with numerical values being preceded by the term “about.” The term “about” is used herein to provide literal support for the exact number that it precedes, as well as a number that is near to or approximately the number that the term precedes. In determining whether a number is near to or approximately a specifically recited number, the near or approximating unrecited number may be a number, which, in the context in which it is presented, provides the substantial equivalent of the specifically recited number. All publications, patents, and patent applications cited in this specification are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Furthermore, each cited publication, patent, or patent application is incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe the subject matter in connection with which the publications are cited. The citation of any publication is for its disclosure prior to the filing date and should not be construed as an admission that the invention described herein is not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention. Further, the dates of publication provided might be different from the actual publication dates, which may need to be independently confirmed.

It is noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,” “only,” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or use of a “negative” limitation. As will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, each of the individual embodiments described and illustrated herein has discrete components and features which may be readily separated from or combined with the features of any of the other several embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Any recited method may be carried out in the order of events recited or in any other order that is logically possible. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may also be used in the practice or testing of the invention, representative illustrative methods and materials are now described.

The following definitions are broadly applicable to each of the embodiments of the present invention set forth herein below. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein generally have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Generally, the nomenclature used herein and the laboratory procedures in analytical chemistry, and organic synthesis are those well-known and commonly employed in the art. Standard techniques, or modifications thereof, are used for chemical syntheses and chemical analyses.

The term “alkyl,” by itself or as part of another substituent, means, unless otherwise stated, a straight- or branched-chain, or cyclic hydrocarbon radical, or combination thereof, which is fully saturated and can include mono-, di-, tri- and tetra-valent radicals, having the number of carbon atoms designated (i.e. C₁-C₁₀ means one to ten carbons). Examples of saturated hydrocarbon radicals include, but are not limited to, groups such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, t-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, cyclohexyl, (cyclohexyl)methyl, cyclopropylmethyl, homologs and isomers of, for example, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, and the like. The term “alkyl”, as used herein refers to alkyl moieties, which can be mono-, di- or polyvalent species as appropriate to satisfy valence requirements.

The term “alkenyl,” by itself or as part of another substituent, means, unless otherwise stated, a straight- or branched-chain, or cyclic alkyl radical, or combination thereof, having one or more carbon-carbon double bonds. Examples of alkenyl groups include, but are not limited to, vinyl, 2-propenyl, crotyl, isopenten-2-yl, butadien-2-yl, 2,4-pentadienyl, 1,4-pentadien-3-yl, and the higher homologs and isomers.

The term “alkynyl,” by itself or as part of another substituent, means, unless otherwise stated, a straight- or branched-chain, or cyclic alkyl radical, or combination thereof, having one or more carbon-carbon triple bonds. Examples of alkynyl groups include, but are not limited to, ethynyl, 1- and 3-propynyl, 3-butynyl, and the higher homologs and isomers.

The term “alkylene,” by itself or as part of another substituent, means a divalent radical derived from an alkyl moiety, as exemplified, but not limited, by —CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂— Typically, an alkyl (or alkylene) group will have from 1 to 24 carbon atoms, with those groups having 10 or fewer carbon atoms being preferred in the present invention. For alkylene and heteroalkylene linker groups, it is optional that no orientation of the linker group is implied by the direction in which the formula of the linker group is written. For example, the formula —C(O)₂R′— represents —C(O)₂R′— and, optionally, —R′C(O)₂—. A “lower alkyl” or “lower alkylene” is a shorter chain alkyl or alkylene group, generally having eight, seven, six, five or fewer carbon atoms.

The terms “alkoxy,” “alkylamino” and “alkylthio” (or thioalkoxy) are used in their conventional sense, and refer to those alkyl groups attached to the remainder of the molecule via an oxygen atom, an amino group, or a sulfur atom, respectively.

The term “heteroalkyl,” by itself or in combination with another term, means, unless otherwise stated, a stable straight- or branched-chain, or cyclic alkyl radical consisting of the stated number of carbon atoms and at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of B, O, N, Si and S, wherein the heteroatom may optionally be oxidized and the nitrogen atom may optionally be quaternized. The heteroatom(s) may be placed at any internal position of the heteroalkyl group or at a terminus, e.g., the position through which the alkyl group is attached to the remainder of the molecule. Examples of “heteroalkyl” groups include, but are not limited to, —CH₂—CH₂—O—CH₃, —CH₂—CH₂—NH—CH₃, —CH₂—CH₂—N(CH₃)—CH₃, —CH₂—S—CH₂—CH₃, —CH₂—CH₂, —S(O)—CH₃, —CH₂—CH₂—S(O)₂—CH₃, —Si(CH₃)₃, and —CH₂—CH═N—OCH₃. Two or more heteroatoms may be consecutive, such as, for example, —CH₂—NH—OCH₃ and —CH₂—O—Si(CH₃)₃. Similarly, the term “heteroalkylene” by itself or as part of another substituent refers to a divalent heteroalkyl radical, as exemplified, but not limited by, —CH₂—CH₂—S—CH₂—CH₂— and —CH₂—S—CH₂—CH₂—NH—CH₂—. For heteroalkylene groups, heteroatoms can also occupy either or both of the termini (e.g., alkyleneoxy, alkylenedioxy, alkyleneamino, alkylenediamino, and the like).

The terms “cycloalkyl” and “heterocycloalkyl”, by themselves or in combination with other terms, represent, unless otherwise stated, cyclic versions of “alkyl” and “heteroalkyl”, respectively. Additionally, for heterocycloalkyl, a heteroatom can occupy the position at which the heterocycle is attached to the remainder of the molecule. Examples of cycloalkyl include, but are not limited to, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, and the like. Examples of heterocycloalkyl include, but are not limited to, 1-piperidinyl, 2-piperidinyl, 3-piperidinyl, 4-morpholinyl, 3-morpholinyl, tetrahydrofuran-2-yl, tetrahydrofuran-3-yl, tetrahydrothien-2-yl, tetrahydrothien-3-yl, 1-piperazinyl, 2-piperazinyl, and the like.

In some embodiments, any of the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylene, heteroalkylene, alkoxy, alkylamino, alkylthio, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl and heterocycloalkyl groups is optionally substituted, e.g., with one or more groups referred to herein as an “alkyl group substituent.”

The terms “halo” or “halogen,” by themselves or as part of another substituent, mean, unless otherwise stated, a fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine atom. Additionally, terms such as “haloalkyl,” are meant to include monohaloalkyl and polyhaloalkyl. For example, the term “halo(C₁-C₄)alkyl” is meant to include, but not be limited to, trifluoromethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 4-chlorobutyl, 3-bromopropyl, and the like.

The term “aryl” means, unless otherwise stated, a polyunsaturated, aromatic substituent that can be a single ring or multiple rings (preferably from 1 to 3 rings), which are fused together. The term “heteroaryl” refers to aryl groups (or rings) that contain from one to four heteroatoms selected from N, O, and S, wherein the nitrogen and sulfur atoms are optionally oxidized, and the nitrogen atom(s) are optionally quaternized. A heteroaryl group can be attached to the remainder of the molecule through a heteroatom. Non-limiting examples of aryl and heteroaryl groups include phenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 1-pyrrolyl, 2-pyrrolyl, 3-pyrrolyl, 3-pyrazolyl, 2-imidazolyl, 4-imidazolyl, pyrazinyl, 2-oxazolyl, 4-oxazolyl, 5-oxazolyl, 3-isoxazolyl, 4-isoxazolyl, 5-isoxazolyl, 2-thiazolyl, 4-thiazolyl, 5-thiazolyl, 2-furyl, 3-furyl, 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl, 2-pyrimidyl, 4-pyrimidyl, 5-benzothiazolyl, purinyl, 2-benzimidazolyl, 5-indolyl, 1-isoquinolyl, 5-isoquinolyl, 2-quinoxalinyl, 5-quinoxalinyl, 3-quinolyl, and 6-quinolyl. In some embodiments, any of the aryl and heteroaryl groups is optionally substituted, e.g., with one or more groups referred to herein as an “aryl group substituent.”

The term “arylalkyl” includes those radicals in which an aryl group is attached to an alkyl group (e.g., benzyl, phenethyl, and the like).

Substituents for the alkyl and heteroalkyl radicals as well as those groups often referred to as alkylene, heteroalkylene, alkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, and heterocycloalkenyl are generically referred to as “alkyl group substituents,” and they can be one or more of a variety of groups selected from, but not limited to: —OR′, ═O, ═NR′, ═N—OR′, —NR′R″, —SR′, -halogen, —SiR′R″R′″, —OC(O)R′, —C(O)R′, —CO₂R′, —CONR′R″, —OC(O)NR′R″, —NR″C(O)R′, —NR′—C(O)NR″R′″, —NR″C(O)₂R′, —NR—C(NR′R″R′″)═NR″″, —NR—C(NR′R″)═NR′″, —S(O)R′, —S(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —NRSO₂R′, —CN and —NO₂ in a number ranging from zero to (2m′+1), where m′ is the total number of carbon atoms in such radical. R′, R″, R′″ and R″″ each preferably independently refer to hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, e.g., aryl substituted with 1-3 halogens, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkoxy or thioalkoxy groups, or arylalkyl groups. When a compound of the invention includes more than one R group, for example, each of the R groups is independently selected as are each R′, R″, R′″ and R″″ groups when more than one of these groups is present. When R′ and R″ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, they can be combined with the nitrogen atom to form a 5-, 6-, or 7-membered ring. For example, —NR′R″ is meant to include, but not be limited to, 1-pyrrolidinyl and 4-morpholinyl. From the above discussion of substituents, one of skill in the art will understand that the term “substituted alkyl” includes groups with carbon atoms bound to groups other than hydrogen, such as haloalkyl (e.g., —CF₃ and —CH₂CF₃) and acyl (e.g., —C(O)CH₃, —C(O)CF₃, —C(O)CH₂OCH₃, and the like).

Similar to the substituents described for the alkyl radical, substituents for the aryl and heteroaryl groups are generically referred to as “aryl group substituents.” Exemplary substituents are selected from the list of alkyl group substituents and others, for example: halogen, —OR′, ═O, ═NR′, ═N—OR′, —NR′R″, —SR′, —SiR′R″R′″, —OC(O)R′, —C(O)R′, —CO₂R′, —CONR′R″, —OC(O)NR′R″, —NR″C(O)R′, —NR′—C(O)NR″R′″, —NR″C(O)₂R′, —NR—C(NR′R″R″)═NR″, —NR—C(NR′R″)═NR′″, —S(O)R′, —S(O)₂R′, —S(O)₂NR′R″, —NRSO₂R′, —CN and —NO₂, —R′, —N₃, —CH(Ph)₂, fluoro(C₁-C₄)alkoxy, and fluoro(C₁-C₄)alkyl, in a number ranging from zero to the total number of open valences on the aromatic ring system; and where R′, R″, R′″ and R″″ are preferably independently selected from hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl and substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl. When a compound of the invention includes more than one R group, for example, each of the R groups is independently selected as are each R′, R″, R′″ and R″″ groups when more than one of these groups is present.

Two of the substituents on an aryl or heteroaryl ring, together with the atom to which they are attached, may optionally be joined to form a ring (e.g., a cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl ring) that is fused to the aryl or heteroaryl ring.

Two of the substituents on adjacent atoms of the aryl or heteroaryl ring may optionally be replaced with a substituent of the formula -T-C(O)—(CRR′)_(q)—U—, wherein T and U are independently —NR—, —O—, —CRR′— or a single bond, and q is an integer from 0 to 3. Alternatively, two of the substituents on adjacent atoms of the aryl or heteroaryl ring may optionally be replaced with a substituent of the formula -A-(CH₂)_(r)—B—, wherein A and B are independently —CRR′—, —O—, —NR—, —S—, —S(O)—, —S(O)₂—, —S(O)₂NR′— or a single bond, and r is an integer of from 1 to 4. One of the single bonds of the new ring so formed may optionally be replaced with a double bond. Alternatively, two of the substituents on adjacent atoms of the aryl or heteroaryl ring may optionally be replaced with a substituent of the formula —(CRR′)_(s)—X—(CR″R′″)_(d)—, where s and d are independently integers of from 0 to 3, and X is —O—, —NR′—, —S—, —S(O)—, —S(O)₂—, or —S(O)₂NR′—. The substituents R, R′, R′ and R′″ are preferably independently selected from hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted (C₁-C₁₆)alkyl.

As used herein, the term “heteroatom” includes oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), sulfur (S) and silicon (Si).

The symbol “R” is a general abbreviation that represents a substituent group that is selected from H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, and substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclyl groups. R can also refer to alkyl group substituents and aryl group substituents.

The term “salt(s)” includes salts of the compounds which are prepared with relatively nontoxic acids or bases, depending on the particular substituents found on the compounds described herein. When compounds of the present invention contain relatively acidic functionalities, base addition salts can be obtained by contacting the neutral form of such compounds with a sufficient amount of the desired base, either neat or in a suitable inert solvent. Examples of base addition salts include sodium, potassium, calcium, ammonium, organic amino, or magnesium salt, or a similar salt. When compounds of the present invention contain relatively basic functionalities, acid addition salts can be obtained by contacting the neutral form of such compounds with a sufficient amount of the desired acid, either neat or in a suitable inert solvent. Examples of acid addition salts include those derived from inorganic acids like hydrochloric, hydrobromic, nitric, carbonic, monohydrogencarbonic, phosphoric, monohydrogenphosphoric, dihydrogenphosphoric, sulfuric, monohydrogensulfuric, hydriodic, or phosphorous acids, and the like, as well as the salts derived from relatively nontoxic organic acids like acetic, propionic, isobutyric, butyric, maleic, malic, malonic, benzoic, succinic, suberic, fumaric, lactic, mandelic, phthalic, benzenesulfonic, p-tolylsulfonic, citric, tartaric, methanesulfonic, and the like. Also included are salts of amino acids such as arginate, and the like, and salts of organic acids like glucuronic or galactunoric acids and the like (see, for example, Berge et al., Journal of Pharmaceutical Science, 66: 1-19 (1977)). Certain specific compounds of the present invention contain both basic and acidic functionalities that allow the compounds to be converted into either base or acid addition salts. Hydrates of the salts are also included.

The symbol

, displayed perpendicular to a bond, indicates the point at which the displayed moiety is attached to the remainder of the molecule.

The compounds herein described may have one or more asymmetric centers or planes. Compounds of the present invention containing an asymmetrically substituted atom may be isolated in optically active or racemic forms. It is well known in the art how to prepare optically active forms, such as by resolution of racemic forms (racemates), by asymmetric synthesis, or by synthesis from optically active starting materials. Resolution of the racemates can be accomplished, for example, by conventional methods such as crystallization in the presence of a resolving agent, or chromatography, using, for example a chiral HPLC column. Many geometric isomers of olefins, C═N double bonds, and the like can also be present in the compounds described herein, and all such stable isomers are contemplated in the present invention. Cis and trans geometric isomers of the compounds of the present invention are described and may be isolated as a mixture of isomers or as separated isomeric forms. All chiral (enantiomeric and diastereomeric), and racemic forms, as well as all geometric isomeric forms of a structure are intended, unless the specific stereochemistry or isomeric form is specifically indicated.

The graphic representations of racemic, ambiscalemic and scalemic or enantiomerically pure compounds used herein are taken from Maehr, J. Chem. Ed., 62: 114-120 (1985): solid and broken wedges are used to denote the absolute configuration of a chiral element; wavy lines indicate disavowal of any stereochemical implication which the bond it represents could generate; solid and broken bold lines are geometric descriptors indicating the relative configuration shown but not implying any absolute stereochemistry; and wedge outlines and dotted or broken lines denote enantiomerically pure compounds of indeterminate absolute configuration.

The term “charged group” refers to a group that bears a negative charge or a positive charge. The negative charge or positive charge can have a charge number that is an integer selected from 1, 2, 3 or higher or that is a fractional number. Exemplary charged groups include for example —OPO₃ ²⁻, —OPO₂ ⁻, —P⁺Ph₃, —N⁺R′R″R′″, —S⁺R and —C(O)O⁻. It is understood that charged groups are accompanied by counterions of opposite charge, whether or not such counterions are expressly represented in the formulae provided herein.

The compounds herein described may have one or more charged groups. For example, the compounds may be zwitterionic, but may be neutral overall. Other embodiments may have one or more charged groups, depending on the pH and other factors. In these embodiments, the compound may be associated with a suitable counter-ion. It is well known in the art how to prepare salts or exchange counter-ions. Generally, such salts can be prepared by reacting free acid forms of these compounds with a stoichiometric amount of the appropriate base (such as Na, Ca, Mg, or K hydroxide, carbonate, bicarbonate, or the like), or by reacting free base forms of these compounds with a stoichiometric amount of the appropriate acid. Such reactions are typically carried out in water or in an organic solvent, or in a mixture of the two. Counter-ions may be changed, for example, by ion-exchange techniques such as ion-exchange chromatography. All zwitterions, salts and counter-ions are intended, unless the counter-ion or salt is specifically indicated.

In some embodiments, the definition of terms used herein is according to IUPAC.

According to the present invention, “regulating or improving the growth of a crop” means an improvement in plant vigour, an improvement in plant quality, improved tolerance to stress factors, and/or improved input use efficiency.

An ‘improvement in plant vigour’ means that certain traits are improved qualitatively or quantitatively when compared with the same trait in a control plant which has been grown under the same conditions in the absence of the method of the invention. Such traits include, but are not limited to, early and/or improved germination, improved emergence, the ability to use less seeds, increased root growth, a more developed root system, increased root nodulation, increased shoot growth, increased tillering, stronger tillers, more productive tillers, increased or improved plant stand, less plant verse (lodging), an increase and/or improvement in plant height, an increase in plant weight (fresh or dry), bigger leaf blades, greener leaf colour, increased pigment content, increased photosynthetic activity, earlier flowering, longer panicles, early grain maturity, increased seed, fruit or pod size, increased pod or ear number, increased seed number per pod or ear, increased seed mass, enhanced seed filling, less dead basal leaves, delay of senescence, improved vitality of the plant, increased levels of amino acids in storage tissues and/or less inputs needed (e.g. less fertiliser, water and/or labour needed). A plant with improved vigour may have an increase in any of the aforementioned traits or any combination or two or more of the aforementioned traits.

An ‘improvement in plant quality’ means that certain traits are improved qualitatively or quantitatively when compared with the same trait in a control plant which has been grown under the same conditions in the absence of the method of the invention. Such traits include, but are not limited to, improved visual appearance of the plant, reduced ethylene (reduced production and/or inhibition of reception), improved quality of harvested material, e.g. seeds, fruits, leaves, vegetables (such improved quality may manifest as improved visual appearance of the harvested material), improved carbohydrate content (e.g. increased quantities of sugar and/or starch, improved sugar acid ratio, reduction of reducing sugars, increased rate of development of sugar), improved protein content, improved oil content and composition, improved nutritional value, reduction in anti-nutritional compounds, improved organoleptic properties (e.g. improved taste) and/or improved consumer health benefits (e.g. increased levels of vitamins and anti-oxidants)), improved post-harvest characteristics (e.g. enhanced shelf-life and/or storage stability, easier processability, easier extraction of compounds), more homogenous crop development (e.g. synchronised germination, flowering and/or fruiting of plants), and/or improved seed quality (e.g. for use in following seasons). A plant with improved quality may have an increase in any of the aforementioned traits or any combination or two or more of the aforementioned traits.

An ‘improved tolerance to stress factors’ means that certain traits are improved qualitatively or quantitatively when compared with the same trait in a control plant which has been grown under the same conditions in the absence of the method of the invention. Such traits include, but are not limited to, an increased tolerance and/or resistance to abiotic stress factors which cause sub-optimal growing conditions such as drought (e.g. any stress which leads to a lack of water content in plants, a lack of water uptake potential or a reduction in the water supply to plants), cold exposure, heat exposure, osmotic stress, UV stress, flooding, increased salinity (e.g. in the soil), increased mineral exposure, ozone exposure, high light exposure and/or limited availability of nutrients (e.g. nitrogen and/or phosphorus nutrients). A plant with improved tolerance to stress factors may have an increase in any of the aforementioned traits or any combination or two or more of the aforementioned traits. In the case of drought and nutrient stress, such improved tolerances may be due to, for example, more efficient uptake, use or retention of water and nutrients. In particular, the compounds or compositions of the present invention are useful to improve tolerance to drought stress.

An ‘improved input use efficiency’ means that the plants are able to grow more effectively using given levels of inputs compared to the grown of control plants which are grown under the same conditions in the absence of the method of the invention. In particular, the inputs include, but are not limited to fertiliser (such as nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, micronutrients), light and water. A plant with improved input use efficiency may have an improved use of any of the aforementioned inputs or any combination of two or more of the aforementioned inputs.

The term “plants” refers to all physical parts of a plant, including seeds, seedlings, saplings, roots, tubers, stems, stalks, foliage, and fruits.

The term “locus” as used herein means fields in or on which plants are growing, or where seeds of cultivated plants are sown, or where seed will be placed into the soil. It includes soil, seeds, and seedlings, as well as established vegetation.

The term “plant propagation material” denotes all generative parts of a plant, for example seeds or vegetative parts of plants such as cuttings and tubers. It includes seeds in the strict sense, as well as roots, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes, and parts of plants.

Compounds

In one aspect, the invention provides a compound of Formula (I):

or salts or N-oxides thereof. R1, R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5, R6, L, A, R8, and n are as defined herein. Any combination of R1, R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5, R6, L, A, R8, and n is encompassed by this disclosure and specifically provided by the invention.

In some embodiments, R1 is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, cyano-alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy-alkyl, haloalkoxy-alkyl, cycloalkyl-alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkynyl, and heterocycloalkyl. In some embodiments, R1 is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, cyano-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₃ halo alkyl-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkoxy-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkynyl, and C₄-C₅ heterocycloalkyl. In some embodiments, R1 is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₁-haloalkoxy-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl and C₂-C₆ alkynyl. In some embodiments, R1 is C₁-C₆ alkyl. In some embodiments, R1 is selected from alkyl-aryl, cycloalkyl, phenyl and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to three (i.e., one, two, or three) Rx. Rx is as defined herein. In some embodiments, R1 is selected from C₁-C₄ alkyl-aryl, C₃-C₅ cycloalkyl, phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to three Rx. In some embodiments, R1 is selected from C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl, phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to three Rx.

Preferably R1 is selected from C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl, phenyl, and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to three Rx; or R1 is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₁-haloalkoxy-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl and C₂-C₆ alkynyl.

More preferably R1 is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl and C₂-C₆ alkynyl. More preferably R1 is C₁-C₆ alkyl. In some embodiments, the alkyl group is linear or branched. In some embodiments, R1 is methyl. In some embodiments, R1 is ethyl. In some embodiments, R1 is n-propyl or iso-propyl. In some embodiments, R1 is n-butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl or tert-butyl. In some embodiments, R1 is allyl. In some embodiments, R1 is propargyl.

In some embodiments, R1 is selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, cyclopropyl, allyl (—CH₂—CH═CH₂), and prop-2-yn-1-yl (—CH₂—CCH).

In some embodiments, each Rx is independently selected from halogen, cyano, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylsulfanyl, haloalkylsulfanyl, alkylsulfinyl, haloalkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, haloalkylsulfonyl and cycloalkyl. In some embodiments, each Rx is independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl and C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl. In some embodiments, each Rx is independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy, C₁-C₃ haloalkoxy and C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl.

Preferably each Rx is independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy, C₁-C₃ haloalkoxy and C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl. More preferably each Rx is independently selected from halogen, C₁-C₂ alkyl, C₁-C₂ haloalkyl and C₁-C₂ alkoxy.

In some embodiments, R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy and cycloalkyl. In some embodiments, R2a and R2b, or R2a and R3a, together with the atom to which they are attached, are optionally joined to form a cycloalkyl. In some embodiments, R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₂-C₄ alkenyl, C₂-C₄ alkynyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl. In some embodiments, R2a and R2b, or R2a and R3a, together with the atom to which they are attached, are optionally joined to form a C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl. In some embodiments, R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4 and R5 are each hydrogen. In some embodiments, R6 is selected from hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl. In some embodiments, at least one of R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5 and R6 is not hydrogen.

Preferably R2a, R2b, R3a and R3b are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, halogen and cyano. More preferably R2a, R2b, R3a and R3b are independently methyl or hydrogen. In one embodiment, R3b is methyl. In a further embodiment, R2a, R2b and R3a are hydrogen, and R3b is methyl.

Preferably R4, R5 and R6 are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₂-C₄ alkenyl, C₂-C₄ alkynyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, halogen and cyano. More preferably R4 and R5 are each hydrogen. More preferably R6 is selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, fluoro, chloro, bromo and cyano. In some embodiments, R6 is hydrogen. In some embodiments, R6 is methyl. In some embodiments, R6 is ethyl. In some embodiments, R6 is n-propyl. In some embodiments, R6 is fluoro. In some embodiments, R6 is chloro. In some embodiments, R6 is bromo. In some embodiments, R6 is cyano.

In some embodiments, R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5 and R6 are all hydrogen. In another embodiment at least one of R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5 and R6 is not hydrogen. In one embodiment, at least one of R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5 and R6 is methyl.

In some embodiments, R2a, R2b, R3a, R4 and R5 are each H. In some embodiments, R3b is selected from hydrogen and methyl. In some embodiments, R6 is selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, fluoro, chloro, and bromo. In some embodiments, R2a, R2b, R3a, R4 and R5 are each H; R3b is selected from hydrogen and methyl; and R6 is selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, fluoro, chloro, and bromo.

In some embodiments, L is selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy and alkoxy-alkyl, each optionally substituted with one to three (i.e., one, two, or three) moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano, alkyl and alkoxy. In some embodiments, L is selected from C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₂-C₄ alkenyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₂ alkoxy-C₁-C₂ alkyl, each optionally substituted with one to three moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl and C₁-C₄ alkoxy. In some embodiments, L is C₁-C₂ alkyl optionally substituted with one or two moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano and C₁-C₂ alkyl. In some embodiments, L is C₁-C₂ alkyl.

Preferably L is C₁-C₄ alkyl optionally substituted with one or two moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano and C₁-C₂ alkyl. More preferably L is C₁-C₂ alkyl optionally substituted with one or two halogen, cyano or C₁-C₂ alkyl. In some embodiments, L is CH₂. In some embodiments, L is —CH₂CH₂—.

In some embodiments, A is cycloalkyl optionally substituted with one to four (i.e., one, two, three, or four) Ry. Ry is as defined herein. In some embodiments, A is C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl optionally substituted with one to four Ry. In some embodiments, A is cyclopropyl optionally substituted with one to four (i.e., one, two, three, or four) moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₂ alkyl and C₁-C₂ haloalkyl.

Preferably A is a 3- or 4-membered cycloalkyl, optionally substituted with one to two Ry. More preferably A is cyclopropyl.

In some embodiments, each Ry is independently selected from halogen, cyano, nitro, alkyl, haloalkyl, —OH, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylsulfanyl, haloalkylsulfanyl, alkylsulfinyl, haloalkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, haloalkylsulfonyl, cycloalkyl, ═O, ═N—OH, —N═OMe, COOH, COORS, CONHR9, CONR9aR9 and NHCOR9. R9 and R9a are as defined herein. In some embodiments, when one or more Ry is ═O, ═N—OH or —N═OMe, A is not C₃ cycloalkyl. In some embodiments, each Ry is independently selected from halogen, cyano, nitro, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, —OH, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl, C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl, ═O, ═N—OH, —N═OMe, COOH, COOR9, CONHR9, CONR9aR9 and NHCOR9. In some embodiments, each Ry is independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, —OH, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkyl.

Preferably each Ry is independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, —OH, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkyl. More preferably each Ry is independently selected from halogen, cyano, methyl, ethyl, methoxy, ethoxy and trifluoromethyl,

In some embodiments, R9 and R9a are independently alkyl. In some embodiments, R9 and R9a are independently C₁-C₄ alkyl.

In some embodiments, each R8 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylsulfanyl, haloalkylsulfanyl, alkylsulfinyl, haloalkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, haloalkylsulfonyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkynyl, cycloalkyl and alkoxy-alkyl. In some embodiments, each R8 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkynyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl and C₁-C₄ alkoxy-C₁-C₄ alkyl. In some embodiments, each R8 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl.

Preferably each R8 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, and C₁-C₄ alkyl. More preferably each R8 is independently selected from hydrogen and halogen. In some embodiments, R8 is fluoro. In some embodiments, R8 is chloro. In some embodiments, R8 is bromo.

In some embodiments, each R8 is independently selected from hydrogen, fluoro, chloro, methyl, and ethyl.

In some embodiments, n is selected from 1, 2, and 3. In some embodiments, n is selected from 1 and 2.

Preferably n is from 1 to 2 (i.e., 1 or 2). In some embodiments, n is 1. In some embodiments, n is 2.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a compound of Formula (II):

wherein R1, R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5, R6, L, R8, and n are as defined herein.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a compound of Formula (III):

wherein R1, R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5, R6, L, A, and R8 are as defined herein.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a compound of structure 1.xxx, 2.xxx, 3.xxx, 4.xxx, 5.xxx, 6.xxx, 7.xxx, 8.xxx, or 9.xxx (see Table 1), wherein R1, R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5, R6, L, and R8 are as defined herein.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a compound of Formula (I):

wherein R1 is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, cyano-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkyl-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkoxy-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkynyl, and C₄-C₅ heterocycloalkyl; or R1 is selected from C₁-C₄ alkyl-aryl, C₃-C₅ cycloalkyl, phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to three Rx; each Rx is independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl and C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl; R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₂-C₄ alkenyl, C₂-C₄ alkynyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl; R2a and R2b, or R2a and R3a, together with the atom to which they are attached, are optionally joined to form a C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl; L is selected from C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₂-C₄ alkenyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₂ alkoxy-C₁-C₂ alkyl, each optionally substituted with one to three moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl and C₁-C₄ alkoxy; A is C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl optionally substituted with one to four Ry; each Ry is independently selected from halogen, cyano, nitro, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, —OH, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl, C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl, ═O, ═N—OH, —N═OMe, COOH, COORS, CONHR9, CONR9aR9 and NHCOR9, with the proviso that when one or more Ry is ═O, ═N—OH or —N═OMe, A is not C₃ cycloalkyl; R9 and R9a are independently C₁-C₄ alkyl; each R8 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkynyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl and C₁-C₄ alkoxy-C₁-C₄ alkyl; n is selected from 1, 2, and 3; or salts or N-oxides thereof.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a compound of Formula (I) wherein R1 is selected from C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl, phenyl, and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to three Rx; or R1 is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₁-haloalkoxy-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl and C₂-C₆ alkynyl; R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5 and R6 are each independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, halogen and cyano; L is C₁-C₄ alkyl optionally substituted with one or two moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano and C₁-C₂ alkyl; A is C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl optionally substituted with one to four Ry; each Rx is independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy, C₁-C₃ haloalkoxy and C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl; each Ry is independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, —OH, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, and C₁-C₄ haloalkyl; each R8 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl; and n is from 1 to 2.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a compound of Formula (II):

wherein R1 is selected from C₁-C₄ alkyl-aryl, C₃-C₅ cycloalkyl, phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to three Rx; or R1 is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, cyano-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkyl-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkoxy-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₅ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkynyl, and C₄-C₅ heterocycloalkyl; R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl and C₁-C₄ alkoxy; L is C₁-C₄ alkyl optionally substituted with one or two moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano and C₁-C₂ alkyl; each R8 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkynyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl and C₁-C₄ alkoxy-C₁-C₄ alkyl; n is from 1 to 3; each Rx is independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl and C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl; or salts or N-oxides thereof.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a compound of Formula (II):

wherein R1 is selected from C₁-C₄ alkyl-aryl, C₃-C₅ cycloalkyl, phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to three Rx; or R1 is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, cyano-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkyl-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkoxy-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₅ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkynyl, and C₄-C₅ heterocycloalkyl; R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl and C₁-C₄ alkoxy; L is C₁-C₄ alkyl optionally substituted with one or two moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano and C₁-C₂ alkyl; each R8 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkynyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl and C₁-C₄ alkoxy-C₁-C₄ alkyl; n is from 1 to 3; each Rx is independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy, C₁-C₃ haloalkoxy and C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl; or salts or N-oxides thereof.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a compound of Formula (II):

wherein R1 is selected from C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl, phenyl, and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to three Rx; or R1 is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₁-haloalkoxy-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl and C₂-C₆ alkynyl; R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl and C₁-C₄ alkoxy; L is C₁-C₄ alkyl optionally substituted with one or two moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano and C₁-C₂ alkyl; each R8 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl; n is from 1 to 3; each Rx is independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy, C₁-C₃ haloalkoxy and C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl; or salts or N-oxides thereof.

Table 1 below includes examples of compounds of the present invention.

TABLE 1

1.xxx

2.xxx

3.xxx

4.xxx

5.xxx

6.xxx

7.xxx

8.xxx

9.xxx Each of the following structures may be combined with the substituent combinations listed in the table below, such that specific compound 1.001 is structure 1.xxx combined with compound x.001, specific compound 5.123 is structure 5.xxx combined with compound x.123 in the table, and so on. In the following table, R2a, R2b, R3a, R4 and R5 are all H.

Compound R1 R6 R8 L R3b x.001 H H H CH₂ H x.002 Me H H CH₂ H x.003 Et H H CH₂ H x.004 n-Pr H H CH₂ H x.005 c-Pr H H CH₂ H x.006 CH₂CH═CH₂ H H CH₂ H x.007 CH₂CCH H H CH₂ H x.008 H Me H CH₂ H x.009 Me Me H CH₂ H x.010 Et Me H CH₂ H x.011 n-Pr Me H CH₂ H x.012 c-Pr Me H CH₂ H x.013 CH₂CH═CH₂ Me H CH₂ H x.014 CH₂CCH Me H CH₂ H x.015 H Et H CH₂ H x.016 Me Et H CH₂ H x.017 Et Et H CH₂ H x.018 n-Pr Et H CH₂ H x.019 c-Pr Et H CH₂ H x.020 CH₂CH═CH₂ Et H CH₂ H x.021 CH₂CCH Et H CH₂ H x.022 H Cl H CH₂ H x.023 Me Cl H CH₂ H x.024 Et Cl H CH₂ H x.025 n-Pr Cl H CH₂ H x.026 c-Pr Cl H CH₂ H x.027 CH₂CH═CH₂ Cl H CH₂ H x.028 CH₂CCH Cl H CH₂ H x.029 H Br H CH₂ H x.030 Me Br H CH₂ H x.031 Et Br H CH₂ H x.032 n-Pr Br H CH₂ H x.033 c-Pr Br H CH₂ H x.034 CH₂CH═CH₂ Br H CH₂ H x.035 CH₂CCH Br H CH₂ H x.036 H H F CH₂ H x.037 Me H F CH₂ H x.038 Et H F CH₂ H x.039 n-Pr H F CH₂ H x.040 c-Pr H F CH₂ H x.041 CH₂CH═CH₂ H F CH₂ H x.042 CH₂CCH H F CH₂ H x.043 H Me F CH₂ H x.044 Me Me F CH₂ H x.045 Et Me F CH₂ H x.046 n-Pr Me F CH₂ H x.047 c-Pr Me F CH₂ H x.048 CH₂CH═CH₂ Me F CH₂ H x.049 CH₂CCH Me F CH₂ H x.050 H Et F CH₂ H x.051 Me Et F CH₂ H x.052 Et Et F CH₂ H x.053 n-Pr Et F CH₂ H x.054 c-Pr Et F CH₂ H x.055 CH₂CH═CH₂ Et F CH₂ H x.056 CH₂CCH Et F CH₂ H x.057 H Cl F CH₂ H x.058 Me Cl F CH₂ H x.059 Et Cl F CH₂ H x.060 n-Pr Cl F CH₂ H x.061 c-Pr Cl F CH₂ H x.062 CH₂CH═CH₂ Cl F CH₂ H x.063 CH₂CCH Cl F CH₂ H x.064 H Br F CH₂ H x.065 Me Br F CH₂ H x.066 Et Br F CH₂ H x.067 n-Pr Br F CH₂ H x.068 c-Pr Br F CH₂ H x.069 CH₂CH═CH₂ Br F CH₂ H x.070 CH₂CCH Br F CH₂ H x.071 H H Cl CH₂ H x.072 Me H Cl CH₂ H x.073 Et H Cl CH₂ H x.074 n-Pr H Cl CH₂ H x.075 c-Pr H Cl CH₂ H x.076 CH₂CH═CH₂ H Cl CH₂ H x.077 CH₂CCH H Cl CH₂ H x.078 H Me Cl CH₂ H x.079 Me Me Cl CH₂ H x.080 Et Me Cl CH₂ H x.081 n-Pr Me Cl CH₂ H x.082 c-Pr Me Cl CH₂ H x.083 CH₂CH═CH₂ Me Cl CH₂ H x.084 CH₂CCH Me Cl CH₂ H x.085 H Et Cl CH₂ H x.086 Me Et Cl CH₂ H x.087 Et Et Cl CH₂ H x.088 n-Pr Et Cl CH₂ H x.089 c-Pr Et Cl CH₂ H x.090 CH₂CH═CH₂ Et Cl CH₂ H x.091 CH₂CCH Et Cl CH₂ H x.092 H Cl Cl CH₂ H x.093 Me Cl Cl CH₂ H x.094 Et Cl Cl CH₂ H x.095 n-Pr Cl Cl CH₂ H x.096 c-Pr Cl Cl CH₂ H x.097 CH₂CH═CH₂ Cl Cl CH₂ H x.098 CH₂CCH Cl Cl CH₂ H x.099 H Br Cl CH₂ H x.100 Me Br Cl CH₂ H x.101 Et Br Cl CH₂ H x.102 n-Pr Br Cl CH₂ H x.103 c-Pr Br Cl CH₂ H x.104 CH₂CH═CH₂ Br Cl CH₂ H x.105 CH₂CCH Br Cl CH₂ H x.106 H H Me CH₂ H x.107 Me H Me CH₂ H x.108 Et H Me CH₂ H x.109 n-Pr H Me CH₂ H x.110 c-Pr H Me CH₂ H x.111 CH₂CH═CH₂ H Me CH₂ H x.112 CH₂CCH H Me CH₂ H x.113 H Me Me CH₂ H x.114 Me Me Me CH₂ H x.115 Et Me Me CH₂ H x.116 n-Pr Me Me CH₂ H x.117 c-Pr Me Me CH₂ H x.118 CH₂CH═CH₂ Me Me CH₂ H x.119 CH₂CCH Me Me CH₂ H x.120 H Et Me CH₂ H x.121 Me Et Me CH₂ H x.122 Et Et Me CH₂ H x.123 n-Pr Et Me CH₂ H x.124 c-Pr Et Me CH₂ H x.125 CH₂CH═CH₂ Et Me CH₂ H x.126 CH₂CCH Et Me CH₂ H x.127 H Cl Me CH₂ H x.128 Me Cl Me CH₂ H x.129 Et Cl Me CH₂ H x.130 n-Pr Cl Me CH₂ H x.131 c-Pr Cl Me CH₂ H x.132 CH₂CH═CH₂ Cl Me CH₂ H x.133 CH₂CCH Cl Me CH₂ H x.134 H Br Me CH₂ H x.135 Me Br Me CH₂ H x.136 Et Br Me CH₂ H x.137 n-Pr Br Me CH₂ H x.138 c-Pr Br Et CH₂ H x.139 CH₂CH═CH₂ Br Me CH₂ H x.140 CH₂CCH Br Et CH₂ H x.141 H H Et CH₂ H x.142 Me H Et CH₂ H x.143 Et H Et CH₂ H x.144 n-Pr H Et CH₂ H x.145 c-Pr H Et CH₂ H x.146 CH₂CH═CH₂ H Et CH₂ H x.147 CH₂CCH H Et CH₂ H x.148 H Me Et CH₂ H x.149 Me Me Et CH₂ H x.150 Et Me Et CH₂ H x.151 n-Pr Me Et CH₂ H x.152 c-Pr Me Et CH₂ H x.153 CH₂CH═CH₂ Me Et CH₂ H x.154 CH₂CCH Me Et CH₂ H x.155 H Et Et CH₂ H x.156 Me Et Et CH₂ H x.157 Et Et Et CH₂ H x.158 n-Pr Et Et CH₂ H x.159 c-Pr Et Et CH₂ H x.160 CH₂CH═CH₂ Et Et CH₂ H x.161 CH₂CCH Et Et CH₂ H x.162 H Cl Et CH₂ H x.163 Me Cl Et CH₂ H x.164 Et Cl Et CH₂ H x.165 n-Pr Cl Et CH₂ H x.166 c-Pr Cl Et CH₂ H x.167 CH₂CH═CH₂ Cl Et CH₂ H x.168 CH₂CCH Cl Et CH₂ H x.169 H Br Et CH₂ H x.170 Me Br Et CH₂ H x.171 Et Br Et CH₂ H x.172 n-Pr Br Et CH₂ H x.173 c-Pr Br Et CH₂ H x.174 CH₂CH═CH₂ Br Et CH₂ H x.175 CH₂CCH Br Et CH₂ H x.176 H H H CH₂ Me x.177 Me H H CH₂ Me x.178 Et H H CH₂ Me x.179 n-Pr H H CH₂ Me x.180 c-Pr H H CH₂ Me x.181 CH₂CH═CH₂ H H CH₂ Me x.182 CH₂CCH H H CH₂ Me x.183 H Me H CH₂ Me x.184 Me Me H CH₂ Me x.185 Et Me H CH₂ Me x.186 n-Pr Me H CH₂ Me x.187 c-Pr Me H CH₂ Me x.188 CH₂CH═CH₂ Me H CH₂ Me x.189 CH₂CCH Me H CH₂ Me x.190 H Et H CH₂ Me x.191 Me Et H CH₂ Me x.192 Et Et H CH₂ Me x.193 n-Pr Et H CH₂ Me x.194 c-Pr Et H CH₂ Me x.195 CH₂CH═CH₂ Et H CH₂ Me x.196 CH₂CCH Et H CH₂ Me x.197 H Cl H CH₂ Me x.198 Me Cl H CH₂ Me x.199 Et Cl H CH₂ Me x.200 n-Pr Cl H CH₂ Me x.201 c-Pr Cl H CH₂ Me x.202 CH₂CH═CH₂ Cl H CH₂ Me x.203 CH₂CCH Cl H CH₂ Me x.204 H Br H CH₂ Me x.205 Me Br H CH₂ Me x.206 Et Br H CH₂ Me x.207 n-Pr Br H CH₂ Me x.208 c-Pr Br H CH₂ Me x.209 CH₂CH═CH₂ Br H CH₂ Me x.210 CH₂CCH Br H CH₂ Me x.211 H F H CH₂ H x.212 Me F H CH₂ H x.213 Et F H CH₂ H x.214 n-Pr F H CH₂ H x.215 c-Pr F H CH₂ H x.216 CH₂CH═CH₂ F H CH₂ H x.217 CH₂CCH F H CH₂ H x.218 H F H CH₂ Me x.219 Me F H CH₂ Me x.220 Et F H CH₂ Me x.221 n-Pr F H CH₂ Me x.222 c-Pr F H CH₂ Me x.223 CH₂CH═CH₂ F H CH₂ Me x.224 CH₂CCH F H CH₂ Me x.225 Me n-Pr H CH₂ H Me = methyl; Et = ethyl; n-Pr = n-propyl; c-Pr = cyclopropyl.

Exemplary compounds of the invention are also shown in the Examples.

Compositions and Uses

In one embodiment, the compounds of the present invention are applied in combination with an agriculturally acceptable adjuvant. In particular, there is provided a composition comprising a compound of the present invention and an agriculturally acceptable adjuvant. There may also be mentioned an agrochemical composition comprising a compound of the present invention.

The present invention provides a method of improving the tolerance of a plant to abiotic stress, wherein the method comprises applying to the plant, plant part, plant propagation material, or plant growing locus a compound, composition or mixture according to the present invention.

The present invention provides a method for regulating or improving the growth of a plant, wherein the method comprises applying to the plant, plant part, plant propagation material, or plant growing locus a compound, composition or mixture according to the present invention. In one embodiment, plant growth is regulated or improved when the plant is subject to abiotic stress conditions.

The present invention also provides a method for inhibiting seed germination of a plant, comprising applying to the seed, or a locus containing seeds, a compound, composition or mixture according to the present invention.

The present invention also provides a method for safening a plant against phytotoxic effects of chemicals, comprising applying to the plant, plant part, plant propagation material, or plant growing locus a compound, composition or mixture according to the present invention.

Suitably the compound or composition is applied in an amount sufficient to elicit the desired response.

Other effects of regulating or improving the growth of a crop include a decrease in plant height, or reduction in tillering, which are beneficial features in crops or conditions where it is desirable to have less biomass and fewer tillers.

Any or all of the above crop enhancements may lead to an improved yield by improving e.g. plant physiology, plant growth and development and/or plant architecture. In the context of the present invention ‘yield’ includes, but is not limited to, (i) an increase in biomass production, grain yield, starch content, oil content and/or protein content, which may result from (a) an increase in the amount produced by the plant per se or (b) an improved ability to harvest plant matter, (ii) an improvement in the composition of the harvested material (e.g. improved sugar acid ratios, improved oil composition, increased nutritional value, reduction of anti-nutritional compounds, increased consumer health benefits) and/or (iii) an increased/facilitated ability to harvest the crop, improved processability of the crop and/or better storage stability/shelf life. Increased yield of an agricultural plant means that, where it is possible to take a quantitative measurement, the yield of a product of the respective plant is increased by a measurable amount over the yield of the same product of the plant produced under the same conditions, but without application of the present invention. According to the present invention, it is preferred that the yield be increased by at least 0.5%, more preferred at least 1%, even more preferred at least 2%, still more preferred at least 4%, preferably 5% or even more.

Any or all of the above crop enhancements may also lead to an improved utilisation of land, i.e. land which was previously unavailable or sub-optimal for cultivation may become available. For example, plants which show an increased ability to survive in drought conditions, may be able to be cultivated in areas of sub-optimal rainfall, e.g. perhaps on the fringe of a desert or even the desert itself.

In one aspect of the present invention, crop enhancements are made in the substantial absence of pressure from pests and/or diseases and/or abiotic stress. In a further aspect of the present invention, improvements in plant vigour, stress tolerance, quality and/or yield are made in the substantial absence of pressure from pests and/or diseases. For example pests and/or diseases may be controlled by a pesticidal treatment that is applied prior to, or at the same time as, the method of the present invention. In a still further aspect of the present invention, improvements in plant vigour, stress tolerance, quality and/or yield are made in the absence of pest and/or disease pressure. In a further embodiment, improvements in plant vigour, quality and/or yield are made in the absence, or substantial absence, of abiotic stress.

The compounds of the present invention can be used alone, but are generally formulated into compositions using formulation adjuvants, such as carriers, solvents and surface-active agents (SFAs). Thus, the present invention further provides a composition comprising a compound of the present invention and an agriculturally acceptable formulation adjuvant. There is also provided a composition consisting essentially of a compound of the present invention and an agriculturally acceptable formulation adjuvant. There is also provided a composition consisting of a compound of the present invention and an agriculturally acceptable formulation adjuvant.

The present invention further provides a plant growth regulator composition comprising a compound of the present invention and an agriculturally acceptable formulation adjuvant. There is also provided a plant growth regulator composition consisting essentially of a compound of the present invention and an agriculturally acceptable formulation adjuvant. There is also provided a plant growth regulator composition consisting of a compound of the present invention and an agriculturally acceptable formulation adjuvant.

The present invention further provides a plant abiotic stress management composition comprising a compound of the present invention and an agriculturally acceptable formulation adjuvant. There is also provided a plant abiotic stress management composition consisting essentially of a compound of the present invention and an agriculturally acceptable formulation adjuvant. There is also provided a plant abiotic stress management composition consisting of a compound of the present invention and an agriculturally acceptable formulation adjuvant.

The present invention further provides a seed germination inhibitor composition comprising a compound of the present invention and an agriculturally acceptable formulation adjuvant. There is also provided a seed germination inhibitor composition consisting essentially of a compound of the present invention and an agriculturally acceptable formulation adjuvant. There is also provided a seed germination inhibitor composition consisting of a compound of the present invention and an agriculturally acceptable formulation adjuvant.

The composition can be in the form of concentrates which are diluted prior to use, although ready-to-use compositions can also be made. The final dilution is usually made with water, but can be made instead of, or in addition to, water, with, for example, liquid fertilisers, micronutrients, biological organisms, oil or solvents.

The compositions generally comprise from 0.1 to 99% by weight, especially from 0.1 to 95% by weight, compounds of the present invention and from 1 to 99.9% by weight of a formulation adjuvant which preferably includes from 0 to 25% by weight of a surface-active substance.

The compositions can be chosen from a number of formulation types, many of which are known from the Manual on Development and Use of FAO Specifications for Plant Protection Products, 5th Edition, 1999. These include dustable powders (DP), soluble powders (SP), water soluble granules (SG), water dispersible granules (WG), wettable powders (WP), granules (GR) (slow or fast release), soluble concentrates (SL), oil miscible liquids (OL), ultralow volume liquids (UL), emulsifiable concentrates (EC), dispersible concentrates (DC), emulsions (both oil in water (EW) and water in oil (EO)), microemulsions (ME), suspension concentrates (SC), aerosols, capsule suspensions (CS) and seed treatment formulations. The formulation type chosen in any instance will depend upon the particular purpose envisaged and the physical, chemical and biological properties of the compound of the present invention.

Dustable powders (DP) may be prepared by mixing a compound of the present invention with one or more solid diluents (for example natural clays, kaolin, pyrophyllite, bentonite, alumina, montmorillonite, kieselguhr, chalk, diatomaceous earths, calcium phosphates, calcium and magnesium carbonates, sulphur, lime, flours, talc and other organic and inorganic solid carriers) and mechanically grinding the mixture to a fine powder.

Soluble powders (SP) may be prepared by mixing a compound of the present invention with one or more water-soluble inorganic salts (such as sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate or magnesium sulphate) or one or more water-soluble organic solids (such as a polysaccharide) and, optionally, one or more wetting agents, one or more dispersing agents or a mixture of said agents to improve water dispersibility/solubility. The mixture is then ground to a fine powder. Similar compositions may also be granulated to form water soluble granules (SG).

Wettable powders (WP) may be prepared by mixing a compound of the present invention with one or more solid diluents or carriers, one or more wetting agents and, preferably, one or more dispersing agents and, optionally, one or more suspending agents to facilitate the dispersion in liquids. The mixture is then ground to a fine powder. Similar compositions may also be granulated to form water dispersible granules (WG).

Granules (GR) may be formed either by granulating a mixture of a compound of the present invention and one or more powdered solid diluents or carriers, or from pre-formed blank granules by absorbing a compound of the present invention (or a solution thereof, in a suitable agent) in a porous granular material (such as pumice, attapulgite clays, fuller's earth, kieselguhr, diatomaceous earths or ground corn cobs) or by adsorbing a compound of the present invention (or a solution thereof, in a suitable agent) on to a hard core material (such as sands, silicates, mineral carbonates, sulphates or phosphates) and drying if necessary. Agents which are commonly used to aid absorption or adsorption include solvents (such as aliphatic and aromatic petroleum solvents, alcohols, ethers, ketones and esters) and sticking agents (such as polyvinyl acetates, polyvinyl alcohols, dextrins, sugars and vegetable oils). One or more other additives may also be included in granules (for example an emulsifying agent, wetting agent or dispersing agent).

Dispersible Concentrates (DC) may be prepared by dissolving a compound of the present invention in water or an organic solvent, such as a ketone, alcohol or glycol ether. These solutions may contain a surface active agent (for example to improve water dilution or prevent crystallisation in a spray tank).

Emulsifiable concentrates (EC) or oil-in-water emulsions (EW) may be prepared by dissolving a compound of the present invention in an organic solvent (optionally containing one or more wetting agents, one or more emulsifying agents or a mixture of said agents). Suitable organic solvents for use in ECs include aromatic hydrocarbons (such as alkylbenzenes or alkylnaphthalenes, exemplified by SOLVESSO 100, SOLVESSO 150 and SOLVESSO 200; SOLVESSO is a Registered Trade Mark), ketones (such as cyclohexanone or methylcyclohexanone) and alcohols (such as benzyl alcohol, furfuryl alcohol or butanol), N-alkylpyrrolidones (such as N-methylpyrrolidone or N-octylpyrrolidone), dimethyl amides of fatty acids (such as C₈-C₁₀ fatty acid dimethylamide) and chlorinated hydrocarbons. An EC product may spontaneously emulsify on addition to water, to produce an emulsion with sufficient stability to allow spray application through appropriate equipment.

Preparation of an EW involves obtaining a compound of the present invention either as a liquid (if it is not a liquid at room temperature, it may be melted at a reasonable temperature, typically below 70° C.) or in solution (by dissolving it in an appropriate solvent) and then emulsifying the resultant liquid or solution into water containing one or more SFAs, under high shear, to produce an emulsion. Suitable solvents for use in EWs include vegetable oils, chlorinated hydrocarbons (such as chlorobenzenes), aromatic solvents (such as alkylbenzenes or alkylnaphthalenes) and other appropriate organic solvents which have a low solubility in water.

Microemulsions (ME) may be prepared by mixing water with a blend of one or more solvents with one or more SFAs, to produce spontaneously a thermodynamically stable isotropic liquid formulation. A compound of the present invention is present initially in either the water or the solvent/SFA blend. Suitable solvents for use in MEs include those hereinbefore described for use in ECs or in EWs. An ME may be either an oil-in-water or a water-in-oil system (which system is present may be determined by conductivity measurements) and may be suitable for mixing water-soluble and oil-soluble pesticides in the same formulation. An ME is suitable for dilution into water, either remaining as a microemulsion or forming a conventional oil-in-water emulsion.

Suspension concentrates (SC) may comprise aqueous or non-aqueous suspensions of finely divided insoluble solid particles of a compound of the present invention. SCs may be prepared by ball or bead milling the solid compound of the present invention in a suitable medium, optionally with one or more dispersing agents, to produce a fine particle suspension of the compound. One or more wetting agents may be included in the composition and a suspending agent may be included to reduce the rate at which the particles settle. Alternatively, a compound of the present invention may be dry milled and added to water, containing agents hereinbefore described, to produce the desired end product.

Aerosol formulations comprise a compound of the present invention and a suitable propellant (for example n-butane). A compound of the present invention may also be dissolved or dispersed in a suitable medium (for example water or a water miscible liquid, such as n-propanol) to provide compositions for use in non-pressurised, hand-actuated spray pumps.

Capsule suspensions (CS) may be prepared in a manner similar to the preparation of EW formulations but with an additional polymerisation stage such that an aqueous dispersion of oil droplets is obtained, in which each oil droplet is encapsulated by a polymeric shell and contains a compound of the present invention and, optionally, a carrier or diluent therefor. The polymeric shell may be produced by either an interfacial polycondensation reaction or by a coacervation procedure. The compositions may provide for controlled release of the compound of the present invention and they may be used for seed treatment. A compound of the present invention may also be formulated in a biodegradable polymeric matrix to provide a slow, controlled release of the compound.

The composition may include one or more additives to improve the biological performance of the composition, for example by improving wetting, retention or distribution on surfaces; resistance to rain on treated surfaces; or uptake or mobility of a compound of the present invention. Such additives include surface active agents (SFAs), spray additives based on oils, for example certain mineral oils or natural plant oils (such as soy bean and rape seed oil), and blends of these with other bio-enhancing adjuvants (ingredients which may aid or modify the action of a compound of the present invention).

Wetting agents, dispersing agents and emulsifying agents may be SFAs of the cationic, anionic, amphoteric or non-ionic type.

Suitable SFAs of the cationic type include quaternary ammonium compounds (for example cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide), imidazolines and amine salts.

Suitable anionic SFAs include alkali metals salts of fatty acids, salts of aliphatic monoesters of sulphuric acid (for example sodium lauryl sulphate), salts of sulphonated aromatic compounds (for example sodium dodecylbenzenesulphonate, calcium dodecylbenzenesulphonate, butylnaphthalene sulphonate and mixtures of sodium di-isopropyl- and tri-isopropyl-naphthalene sulphonates), ether sulphates, alcohol ether sulphates (for example sodium laureth-3-sulphate), ether carboxylates (for example sodium laureth-3-carboxylate), phosphate esters (products from the reaction between one or more fatty alcohols and phosphoric acid (predominately mono-esters) or phosphorus pentoxide (predominately di-esters), for example the reaction between lauryl alcohol and tetraphosphoric acid; additionally these products may be ethoxylated), sulphosuccinamates, paraffin or olefine sulphonates, taurates and lignosulphonates.

Suitable SFAs of the amphoteric type include betaines, propionates and glycinates.

Suitable SFAs of the non-ionic type include condensation products of alkylene oxides, such as ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide or mixtures thereof, with fatty alcohols (such as oleyl alcohol or cetyl alcohol) or with alkylphenols (such as octylphenol, nonylphenol or octylcresol); partial esters derived from long chain fatty acids or hexitol anhydrides; condensation products of said partial esters with ethylene oxide; block polymers (comprising ethylene oxide and propylene oxide); alkanolamides; simple esters (for example fatty acid polyethylene glycol esters); amine oxides (for example lauryl dimethyl amine oxide); and lecithins.

Suitable suspending agents include hydrophilic colloids (such as polysaccharides, polyvinylpyrrolidone or sodium carboxymethylcellulose) and swelling clays (such as bentonite or attapulgite).

The compound or composition of the present invention may be applied to a plant, part of the plant, plant organ, plant propagation material or a plant growing locus.

The application is generally made by spraying the composition, typically by tractor mounted sprayer for large areas, but other methods such as dusting (for powders), drip or drench can also be used. Alternatively the composition may be applied in furrow or directly to a seed before or at the time of planting.

The compound or composition of the present invention may be applied pre-emergence or post-emergence. Suitably, where the composition is used to regulate the growth of crop plants or enhance the tolerance to abiotic stress, it may be applied post-emergence of the crop. Where the composition is used to inhibit or delay the germination of seeds, it may be applied pre-emergence.

The present invention envisages application of the compounds or compositions of the invention to plant propagation material prior to, during, or after planting, or any combination of these.

Although active ingredients can be applied to plant propagation material in any physiological state, a common approach is to use seeds in a sufficiently durable state to incur no damage during the treatment process. Typically, seed would have been harvested from the field; removed from the plant; and separated from any cob, stalk, outer husk, and surrounding pulp or other non-seed plant material. Seed would preferably also be biologically stable to the extent that treatment would not cause biological damage to the seed. It is believed that treatment can be applied to seed at any time between seed harvest and sowing of seed including during the sowing process.

Methods for applying or treating active ingredients on to plant propagation material or to the locus of planting are known in the art and include dressing, coating, pelleting and soaking as well as nursery tray application, in furrow application, soil drenching, soil injection, drip irrigation, application through sprinklers or central pivot, or incorporation into soil (broad cast or in band). Alternatively or in addition active ingredients may be applied on a suitable substrate sown together with the plant propagation material.

The rates of application of compounds of the present invention may vary within wide limits and depend on the nature of the soil, the method of application (pre- or post-emergence; seed dressing; application to the seed furrow; no tillage application etc.), the crop plant, the prevailing climatic conditions, and other factors governed by the method of application, the time of application and the target crop. For foliar or drench application, the compounds of the present invention according to the invention are generally applied at a rate of from 1 to 2000 g/ha, especially from 5 to 1000 g/ha. For seed treatment the rate of application is generally between 0.0005 and 150 g per 100 kg of seed.

The compounds and compositions of the present invention may be applied to dicotyledonous or monocotyledonous crops.

Crops of useful plants in which the composition according to the invention can be used include perennial and annual crops, such as berry plants for example blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and strawberries; cereals for example barley, maize (corn), millet, oats, rice, rye, sorghum triticale and wheat; fibre plants for example cotton, flax, hemp, jute and sisal; field crops for example sugar and fodder beet, coffee, hops, mustard, oilseed rape (canola), poppy, sugar cane, sunflower, tea and tobacco; fruit trees for example apple, apricot, avocado, banana, cherry, citrus, nectarine, peach, pear and plum; grasses for example Bermuda grass, bluegrass, bentgrass, centipede grass, fescue, ryegrass, St. Augustine grass and Zoysia grass; herbs such as basil, borage, chives, coriander, lavender, lovage, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme; legumes for example beans, lentils, peas and soya beans; nuts for example almond, cashew, ground nut, hazelnut, peanut, pecan, pistachio and walnut; palms for example oil palm; ornamentals for example flowers, shrubs and trees; other trees, for example cacao, coconut, olive and rubber; vegetables for example asparagus, aubergine, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cucumber, garlic, lettuce, marrow, melon, okra, onion, pepper, potato, pumpkin, rhubarb, spinach and tomato; and vines for example grapes.

Crops are to be understood as being those which are naturally occurring, obtained by conventional methods of breeding, or obtained by genetic engineering. They include crops which contain so-called output traits (e.g. improved storage stability, higher nutritional value and improved flavour).

Crops are to be understood as also including those crops which have been rendered tolerant to herbicides like bromoxynil or classes of herbicides such as ALS-, EPSPS-, GS-, HPPD- and PPO-inhibitors. An example of a crop that has been rendered tolerant to imidazolinones, e.g. imazamox, by conventional methods of breeding is Clearfield® summer canola. Examples of crops that have been rendered tolerant to herbicides by genetic engineering methods include e.g. glyphosate- and glufosinate-resistant maize varieties commercially available under the trade names RoundupReady®, Herculex I® and LibertyLink®.

Crops are also to be understood as being those which naturally are or have been rendered resistant to harmful insects. This includes plants transformed by the use of recombinant DNA techniques, for example, to be capable of synthesising one or more selectively acting toxins, such as are known, for example, from toxin-producing bacteria. Examples of toxins which can be expressed include δ-endotoxins, vegetative insecticidal proteins (Vip), insecticidal proteins of bacteria colonising nematodes, and toxins produced by scorpions, arachnids, wasps and fungi.

An example of a crop that has been modified to express the Bacillus thuringiensis toxin is the Bt maize KnockOut® (Syngenta Seeds). An example of a crop comprising more than one gene that codes for insecticidal resistance and thus expresses more than one toxin is VipCot® (Syngenta Seeds). Crops or seed material thereof can also be resistant to multiple types of pests (so-called stacked transgenic events when created by genetic modification). For example, a plant can have the ability to express an insecticidal protein while at the same time being herbicide tolerant, for example Herculex I® (Dow AgroSciences, Pioneer Hi-Bred International).

Compounds of the present invention may also be used to inhibit or delay the germination of seeds of non-crop plants, for example as part of an integrated weed control program. A delay in germination of weed seeds may provide a crop seedling with a stronger start by reducing competition with weeds.

Alternatively compounds of the present invention may be used to delay the germination of seeds of crop plants, for example to increase the flexibility of timing of planting for the grower.

Normally, in the management of a crop a grower would use one or more other agronomic chemicals or biologicals in addition to the compound or composition of the present invention. There is also provided a mixture comprising a compound or composition of the present invention, and a further active ingredient.

Examples of agronomic chemicals or biologicals include pesticides, such as acaricides, bactericides, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, nematicides, plant growth regulators, crop enhancing agents, safeners as well as plant nutrients and plant fertilizers. Examples of suitable mixing partners may be found in the Pesticide Manual, 15th edition (published by the British Crop Protection Council). Such mixtures may be applied to a plant, plant propagation material or plant growing locus either simultaneously (for example as a pre-formulated mixture or a tank mix), or sequentially in a suitable timescale. Co-application of pesticides with the present invention has the added benefit of minimising farmer time spent applying products to crops. The combination may also encompass specific plant traits incorporated into the plant using any means, for example conventional breeding or genetic modification.

The present invention also provides the use of a compound of Formula (I), (II), or (III) wherein R1, R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5, R6, L, A, R8, and n are as defined herein; or salts or N-oxides thereof; or a composition comprising a compound according to Formula (I), (II), or (III) and an agriculturally acceptable formulation adjuvant, for improving the tolerance of a plant to abiotic stress, regulating or improving the growth of a plant, inhibiting seed germination and/or safening a plant against phytotoxic effects of chemicals.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides the use of a compound of Formula (I):

wherein R1 is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, cyano-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkyl-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkoxy-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkynyl, and C₄-C₅ heterocycloalkyl; or R1 is selected from C₁-C₄ alkyl-aryl, C₃-C₅ cycloalkyl, phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to three Rx; each Rx is independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₁ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₁ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl and C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl; R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₂-C₄ alkenyl, C₂-C₄ alkynyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl; R2a and R2b, or R2a and R3a, together with the atom to which they are attached, are optionally joined to form a C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl; L is selected from C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₂-C₄ alkenyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₂ alkoxy-C₁-C₂ alkyl, each optionally substituted with one to three moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl and C₁-C₄ alkoxy; A is C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl optionally substituted with one to four Ry; each Ry is independently selected from halogen, cyano, nitro, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, —OH, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl, C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl, ═O, ═N—OH, —N═OMe, COOH, COOR9, CONHR9, CONR9aR9 and NHCOR9, with the proviso that when one or more Ry is ═O, ═N—OH or —N═OMe, A is not C₃ cycloalkyl; R9 and R9a are independently C₁-C₄ alkyl; each R8 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkynyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl and C₁-C₄ alkoxy-C₁-C₄ alkyl; n is selected from 1, 2, and 3; or salts or N-oxides thereof; or a composition comprising a compound according to Formula (I) and an agriculturally acceptable formulation adjuvant, for improving the tolerance of a plant to abiotic stress, regulating or improving the growth of a plant, inhibiting seed germination and/or safening a plant against phytotoxic effects of chemicals.

There is also provided the use of a compound, composition or mixture of the present invention, for improving the tolerance of a plant to abiotic stress, regulating or improving the growth of a plant, inhibiting seed germination and/or safening a plant against phytotoxic effects of chemicals.

Synthesis

Compounds of the invention are generally conventionally synthesized. The synthetic methods known in the art and described herein can be used to synthesize compounds of the invention, using appropriate precursors. Schemes 1 to 3 provide exemplary methods of preparing the compounds of Formula (I).

Compounds of Formula (I) can be prepared from a compound of Formula (Ia) and a sulfonyl chloride of Formula (Ib) in the presence of an organic base such as triethyl amine.

Sulfonyl chlorides of Formula (Ib) are either commercially available or can be prepared by a person skilled in the art following known procedures from the literature.

Compounds of Formula (I) can be prepared from a compound of Formula (Ic), wherein X is a suitable leaving group, such as, for example halogen or triflate by coupling with with a derivative of formula Z-A, wherein Z is a boron or a tin derivative and A is as described for the compound of Formula (I) in the presence of a suitable catalyst/ligand system, often a palladium (0) complex. These reactions may be carried out under microwave irradiation. These reactions are known to the person skilled in the art under the name of Stille, Suzuki coupling, see for example: Strategic Applications of Named Reactions in Organic Synthesis Kurti, Laszlo; Czako, Barbara; Editors. USA. (2005), Publisher: Elsevier Academic Press, Burlington, Mass. p. 448 (Suzuki coupling) and p. 438 (Stille coupling) and cited references.

Compounds of Formula (I) wherein A is a C-4 cycloalkyl ring can be prepared from a compound of Formula (Id) by reaction of a ketene or ketene-iminium salts, as for example in Tetrahedron Letters 55 (2014) 5147-5150.

Exemplary syntheses of various compounds of the invention are set forth in Example 1.

By way of summary, in exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides: A compound of Formula (I):

or salts or N-oxides thereof. R1 is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, cyano-alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy-alkyl, haloalkoxy-alkyl, cycloalkyl-alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkynyl, and heterocycloalkyl; or R1 is selected from alkyl-aryl, cycloalkyl, phenyl and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to three Rx. Each Rx is independently selected from halogen, cyano, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylsulfanyl, haloalkylsulfanyl, alkylsulfinyl, haloalkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, haloalkylsulfonyl and cycloalkyl. R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy and cycloalkyl. R2a and R2b, or R2a and R3a, together with the atom to which they are attached, are optionally joined to form a cycloalkyl. L is selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy and alkoxy-alkyl, each optionally substituted with one to three moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano, alkyl and alkoxy. A is cycloalkyl optionally substituted with one to four Ry. Each Ry is independently selected from halogen, cyano, nitro, alkyl, haloalkyl, —OH, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylsulfanyl, haloalkylsulfanyl, alkylsulfinyl, haloalkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, haloalkylsulfonyl, cycloalkyl, ═O, ═N—OH, —N═OMe, COOH, COORS, CONHR9, CONR9aR9 and NHCOR9. When one or more Ry is ═O, ═N—OH or —N═OMe, A is not C₃ cycloalkyl. R9 and R9a are independently alkyl. Each R8 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylsulfanyl, haloalkylsulfanyl, alkylsulfinyl, haloalkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, haloalkylsulfonyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkynyl, cycloalkyl and alkoxy-alkyl. n is selected from 1, 2, and 3.

A compound according to the preceding paragraph, wherein each Rx is independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl and C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl.

A compound according to any preceding paragraph, wherein Rx is selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy, C₁-C₃ haloalkoxy and C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl.

A compound according to any preceding paragraph, wherein R1 is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, cyano-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkyl-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkoxy-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkynyl, and C₄-C₅ heterocycloalkyl; or R1 is selected from C₁-C₄ alkyl-aryl, C₃-C₅ cycloalkyl, phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to three Rx.

A compound according to any preceding paragraph, wherein R1 is selected from C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl, phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to three Rx; or R1 is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₁-haloalkoxy-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl and C₂-C₆ alkynyl.

A compound according to any preceding paragraph, wherein R1 is C₁-C₆ alkyl.

A compound according to any preceding paragraph, wherein R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₂-C₄ alkenyl, C₂-C₄ alkynyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl; R2a and R2b, or R2a and R3a, together with the atom to which they are attached, are optionally joined to form a C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl.

A compound according to any preceding paragraph, wherein R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4 and R5 are each hydrogen.

A compound according to any preceding paragraph, wherein R6 is selected from hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl.

A compound according to any preceding paragraph, wherein at least one of R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5 and R6 is not hydrogen.

A compound according to any preceding paragraph, wherein L is selected from C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₂-C₄ alkenyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₂ alkoxy-C₁-C₂ alkyl, each optionally substituted with one to three moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl and C₁-C₄ alkoxy.

A compound according to any preceding paragraph, wherein L is C₁-C₂ alkyl optionally substituted with one or two moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano and C₁-C₂ alkyl.

A compound according to any preceding paragraph, wherein L is C₁-C₂ alkyl.

A compound according to any preceding paragraph, wherein each Ry is independently selected from halogen, cyano, nitro, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, —OH, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl, C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl, ═O, ═N—OH, —N═OMe, COOH, COORS, CONHR9, CONR9aR9 and NHCOR9. When one or more Ry is ═O, ═N—OH or —N═OMe, A is not C₃ cycloalkyl. R9 and R9a are independently C₁-C₄ alkyl.

A compound according to any preceding paragraph, wherein Ry is selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, —OH, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkyl.

A compound according to any preceding paragraph, wherein A is C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl optionally substituted with one to four Ry.

A compound according to any preceding paragraph, wherein A is cyclopropyl optionally substituted with one to four moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₂ alkyl and C₁-C₂ haloalkyl.

A compound according to any preceding paragraph, wherein each R8 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkynyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl and C₁-C₄ alkoxy-C₁-C₄ alkyl.

A compound according to any preceding paragraph, wherein each R8 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl; and n is selected from 1 and 2.

A composition comprising a compound as defined in any preceding paragraph, and an agriculturally acceptable formulation adjuvant.

A mixture comprising a compound as defined in any preceding paragraph, and a further active ingredient.

A method for improving the tolerance of a plant to abiotic stress, wherein the method comprises applying to the plant, plant part, plant propagation material, or plant growing locus a compound according to any preceding paragraph, a composition according to any preceding paragraph, or a mixture according to any preceding paragraph.

A method for inhibiting seed germination of a plant, wherein the method comprises applying to the seed or a locus containing seeds a compound according to any preceding paragraph, a composition according to any preceding paragraph, or a mixture according to any preceding paragraph.

A method for regulating or improving the growth of a plant, wherein the method comprises applying to the plant, plant part, plant propagation material, or plant growing locus a compound according to any preceding paragraph, a composition according to any preceding paragraph, or a mixture according to any preceding paragraph.

A method for safening a plant against phytotoxic effects of chemicals, comprising applying to the plant, plant part, plant propagation material, or plant growing locus a compound, according to any preceding paragraph, a composition according to any preceding paragraph, or a mixture according to any preceding paragraph.

The materials and methods of the present invention are further illustrated by the examples which follow. These examples are offered to illustrate, but not to limit the claimed invention.

Examples Example 1: Syntheses Preparation of 1-(4-cyclopropylphenyl)-N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)methanesulfonamide (compound 1.001)

6-Amino-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-2-one (50 mg, 0.245 mmol) was dissolved in ethyl acetate (1.22 mL) and cooled to 0° C. under argon. N,N′-Diisopropylethylamine (85.3 μl, 0.490 mmol) was added. A solution of (4-cyclopropylphenyl)methanesulfonyl chloride (188 mg, 0.367 mmol) in ethyl acetate (1 ml) was then added dropwise. The reaction mixture was allowed to stir at room temperature overnight. Aqueous HCl (1M) was then slowly added and the layers were separated. The organic layer was washed with aqueous Na₂CO₃ and water, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to give 173 mg of crude product, which was chromatographed on silica gel with a gradient of ethyl acetate/hexane to yield 1-(4-cyclopropylphenyl)-N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)methanesulfonamide (75.6 mg, 0.190 mmol, 77%) as a beige powder, ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ 0.70 (2H, m); 0.98 (5H, m); 1.67 (2H, sext, J=8); 1.90 (1H, m); 2.65 (2H, t, J=8); 2.85 (2H, t, J=8); 3.87 (2H, t, J=8); 4.30 (2H, s); 6.05 (1H, s); 6.95 (3H, m); 7.05 (2H, d, J=10); 7.20 (2H, d, J=10); LC-MS chromatography: RT (min): 0.98, [M+H] (measured): 399.

Preparation of 1-[4-(2,2-dimethyl-3-oxo-cyclobutyl)phenyl]-N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)methanesulfonamide (compound 8.004) 1) N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)-1-(4-vinylphenyl)methanesulfonamide

1-(4-bromophenyl)-N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)methanesulfonamide (55 mg, 126 mmol) was dissolved in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (0.99 ml) and water (0.11 mL). Potassium trifluoro(vinyl)borate (20.2 mg, 0.151 mmol) and caesium carbonate (123 mg, 0.377 mmol) were added. The reaction mixture was degassed, PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ (4.5 mg, 0.006 mmol) was added: The reaction mixture was heating at 80° C. for 15 h. Then it was cooled at room temperature, and poured on ice/water. The aqueous layer was extracted twice with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with water then with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated under reduced pressure to give 78 mg of the crude product, which was chromatographed on silica gel with a gradient of ethyl acetate/hexane to yield N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)-1-(4-vinylphenyl)methanesulfonamide (30 mg, 0.627 mmol, 63%). ¹H NMR (CDCl₃, 400 MHz) δ 0.97 (3H, t, J=7); 1.66 (2H, m); 2.63 (2H, dd, J=9, 6); 2.84 (2H, m); 3.87 (2H, m); 4.32 (2H, s); 5.31 (1H, d, J=11); 5.77 (1H, d, J=18); 6.21 (1H, s); 6.70 (1H, dd, J=18, 11); 6.94 (3H, m); 7.28 (2H, d, J=8); 7.40 (2H, d, J=8).

2) 1-[4-(2,2-dimethyl-3-oxo-cyclobutyl)phenyl]-N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)methanesulfonamide

Under argon, to 1-(2-methylprop-1-enylidene)piperidin-1-ium trifluoromethanesulfonate (1.6 mL, 0.260 mmol, 0.16 mol/L in CDCl₃, prepared as in Tetrahedron Letters 55 (2014) 5147-5150) was added at 0° C. a solution of N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)-1-(4-vinylphenyl)methanesulfonamide (100 mg, 0.260 mmol) in chloroform (1.6 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred 3 h at room temperature then 1-(2-methylprop-1-enylidene)piperidin-1-ium trifluoromethanesulfonate (1.6 mL, 0.260 mmol, 0.16 mol/L in CDCl₃) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred again 20 min at room temperature. Water then HCl 1N (1 mL) were added. The aqueous layer was twice extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was washed with water then with a solution of NaHCO₃, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated under reduced pressure to give 150 mg of the crude product, which was chromatographed on silica gel with a gradient of ethyl acetate/hexane to yield 1-[4-(2,2-dimethyl-3-oxo-cyclobutyl)phenyl]-N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)methanesulfonamide (102 mg, 0.863 mmol, 86%) as an oil; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM-d) δ ppm 0.79 (3H, s); 0.97 (3H, t, J=7); 1.36 (3H, s); 1.67 (2H, m); 2.65 (2H, dd, J=8, 6); 2.88 (2H, m); 3.37 (3H, m); 3.91 (2H, m); 4.33 (2H, s); 6.35 (s, 1H); 6.93 (1H, m); 6.98 (1H, m); 7.03 (1H, d, J=2); 7.21 (2H, d, J=8); 7.32 (2H, d, J=8).

Preparation of 1-(4-cyclobutylphenyl)-N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)methanesulfonamide (compound 5.004)

Under argon, 1-(4-bromophenyl)-N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)methanesulfonamide (100 mg, 0.228 mmol) and [methanesulfonato(2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2′,6′-di-i-propoxy-1,1′-biphenyl) (2′-methylamino-1,1′-biphenyl-2-yl)palladium(II)] (8.63 mg, 0.011 mmol) were dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (2.3 mL), cyclobutyl zinc bromide (0.91 mL, 0.457 mmol) was added dropwise and the reaction mixture was stirred 18 h at room temperature. Then the reaction mixture was poured on ice and some ml sat. NH₄Cl-solution was added. The aqueous layer was thrice extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layers were combined, washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated under reduced pressure to give 106 mg of crude product which was chromatographed on silica gel with a gradient of ethyl acetate/hexane to yield 1-(4-cyclobutylphenyl)-N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)methanesulfonamide (77 mg, 0.187 mmol, 82%) as a pale yellow foam; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM-d) δ ppm 0.97 (3H, t, J=7); 1.65 (2H, m); 1.86 (1H, m); 2.06 (3H, m); 2.35 (2H, m); 2.63 (2H, dd, J=8, 6); 2.85 (2H, m); 3.53 (1H, m); 3.83 (2H, m); 4.29 (2H, s); 6.40 (1H, s); 6.92 (3H, m); 7.21 (4H, m).

Preparation of 1-(4-cyclopentylphenyl)-N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)methanesulfonamide (compound 9.004) 1) 1-[4-(cyclopenten-1-yl)phenyl]-N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)methanesulfonamide

1-(4-bromophenyl)-N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)methanesulfonamide (219 mg, 0.500 mmol) was dissolved in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (3.5 mL): The reaction mixture was degassed then were added cyclopenten-1-ylboronic acid (72.8 mg, 0.650 mmol), caesium fluoride (380 mg, 2.5 mmol) and PdCl₂dppf₂ (20.4 mg, 0,025 mmol). The reaction mixture was irradiated in microwave 15 min at 110° C. then poured on iced water. The aqueous layer was twice extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with a solution of NaHCO₃, water and then with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated under reduced pressure to give the crude product which was chromatographed on silica gel with a gradient of ethyl acetate/hexane to yield at 185 mg of the product. It was suspended in methanol, heated then cooled at room temperature, filtered and washed with methanol to give 1-[4-(cyclopenten-1-yl)phenyl]-N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)methanesulfonamide (162 mg, 0.381 mmol, 76%) as beige crystals; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ ppm 0.88 (3H, t, J=7); 1.53 (2H, m); 1.97 (2H, m); 2.50 (4H, m); 2.61 (2H, m); 2.79 (2H, t, J=7); 3.81 (2H, m); 4.43 (2H, s); 6.30 (1H, br. s.); 6.98 (1H, s); 7.06 (2H, m); 7.24 (2H, d, J=8); 7.43 (2H, m, J=8); 9.67 (1H, s).

2) 1-(4-cyclopentylphenyl)-N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)methanesulfonamide

Under argon 1-[4-(cyclopenten-1-yl)phenyl]-N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)methanesulfonamide (99 mg, 0.233 mmol) was suspended in a mixture ethanol-ethyl acetate (7 mL/7 mL), then Pd/C (10%, 9.9 mg, 0.040 mmol) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred under hydrogen atmosphere for 20 h at 45° C. Then the hydrogen is removed by argon and the reaction mixture was filtered through a pad of Celite®. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to give 106 mg of crude product which was chromatographed on silica gel with a gradient of ethyl acetate/hexane to yield 1-(4-cyclopentylphenyl)-N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)methanesulfonamide (77 mg, 0.18 mmol, 77% yield) as colorless crystals; ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CHLOROFORM-d) δ ppm 0.97 (3H, t, J=7); 1.56 (3H, m); 1.70 (3H, m); 1.82 (2H, m); 2.07 (2H, m); 2.64 (2H, dd, J=8, 6); 2.85 (2H, m); 3.00 (1H, m); 3.88 (2H, m); 4.30 (2H, s); 6.21 (1H, s); 6.95 (3H, m); 7.22 (4H, m).

The following compounds were prepared either by a method described above or by coupling of 6-amino-quinolinone with the corresponding sulfonyl chloride. The 6-amino-quinolinones were prepared following know procedures for related compounds, as for example in Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1, 1981, (11), 2912-19 and WO2014210555.

LCMS (RT Compound Compound Name min) Mass (M + H+) 1.004 1-(4-cyclopropylphenyl)-N-(2-oxo-1- 0.98 399 propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6- yl)methanesulfonamide 1.025 N-(8-chloro-2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4- 1.04 433 dihydroquinolin-6-yl)-1-(4- cyclopropylphenyl)methanesulfonamide 1.214 1-(4-cyclopropylphenyl)-N-(8-fluoro-2- 1.07 417 oxo-1-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6- yl)methanesulfonamide 1.225 1-(4-cyclopropylphenyl)-N-(1-methyl-2- 0.99 413.3 oxo-8-propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6- yl)methanesulfonamide 1.178 1-(4-cyclopropylphenyl)-N-(1-ethyl-4- 0.96 400 methyl-2-oxo-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6- yl)methanesulfonamide 1.213 1-(4-cyclopropylphenyl)-N-(1-ethyl-8- 0.98 403 fluoro-2-oxo-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6- yl)methanesulfonamide 1.220 1-(4-cyclopropylphenyl)-N-(1-ethyl-8- 1.00 417 fluoro-4-methyl-2-oxo-3,4- dihydroquinolin-6-yl)methanesulfonamide 9.004 1-(4-cyclopentylphenyl)-N-(2-oxo-1- 1.09 427 propyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6- yl)methanesulfonamide 8.004 1-[4-(2,2-dimethyl-3-oxo- 0.94 455 cyclobutyl)phenyl]-N-(2-oxo-1-propyl-3,4- dihydroquinolin-6-yl)methanesulfonamide 5.004 1-(4-cyclobutylphenyl)-N-(2-oxo-1-propyl- 1.05 414 3,4-dihydroquinolin-6- yl)methanesulfonamide LC-MS Method - Standard: (SQD-ZDQ-ZCQ)

Spectra were recorded on a Mass Spectrometer from Waters (SQD or ZQ Single quadrupole mass spectrometer) equipped with an electrospray source (Polarity: positive or negative ions, Capillary: 3.00 kV, Cone range: 30-60 V, Extractor: 2.00 V, Source Temperature: 150° C., Desolvation Temperature: 350° C., Cone Gas Flow: 0 L/Hr, Desolvation Gas Flow: 650 L/Hr, Mass range: 100 to 900 Da) and an Acquity UPLC from Waters: Binary pump, heated column compartment and diode-array detector. Solvent degasser, binary pump, heated column compartment and diode-array detector. Column: Waters UPLC HSS T3, 1.8 μm, 30×2.1 mm, Temp: 60° C., DAD Wavelength range (nm): 210 to 500, Solvent Gradient: A=water+5% MeOH+0.05% HCOOH, B=Acetonitrile+0.05% HCOOH:gradient:gradient: 0 min 0% B, 100% A; 1.2-1.5 min 100% B; Flow (ml/min) 0.85.

Example 2: Biological Testing A) Increased Water Use Efficiency (WU) in Soybean

Chemicals were tested for their effect on reducing plant water use (WU) after being applied by foliar sprays onto soybean plants (variety S20-G7)—grown in controlled environment plant growth chambers. All chemicals were applied using an emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulation that was diluted with water containing additional surfactant (EXTRAVON 1 g/20 L) to the indicated concentrations. Plant WU was assessed by multiple pot weighing processes before and after application of the chemicals at the indicated times (expressed in days after application (DAA)). The WU data before application was used to correct for differences in water use due to non-treatment effects (e.g. due to differences in plant size). The results are expressed compared to negative control treatment (water with EXTRAVON 1 g/20 L).

Application of the chemicals (0 DAA) takes place approximately between 8 to 9:30 a.m. WU is measured within day time (chamber light is on 6:00 to 20:00) at these timepoints: 0 DAA AM (10:30-12:50) and 0 DAA PM (14:00-19:50), 1 DAA AM (7:30-12:50) and 1 DAA PM (14:00-19:50) and 2 DAA AM (7:30-12:50). The cumulative total WU (0-2 DAA) is calculated by summing the WU data mentioned above.

TABLE B1 Percent increase or decrease of water use (WU) of soybean plants sprayed with the indictated chemicals compared to a negative control treatment (e.g. 0 = identical to negative control; −8.5 = −8.5% decrease of WU compared to negative control treatment). Average WU values of 6 pots (each with three plants) per treatment are shown. % WU % WU % WU % WU Total application % WU 0 0 DAA 1 DAA 1 DAA 2 DAA 0 to 2 Compound rate μM DAA AM PM AM PM AM DAA

100 −1.3 −0.7 −2.2 −0.2 −3.4 −2.0

100 −0.8  −3.8 −3.0 −2.8 −5.2 −3.8

500 −8.8 −10.7 −9.4 −6.4 −6.1 −8.9

The results show that compounds of the present invention result in better plant water use than quinabactin.

TABLE B2 Repeated experiment, including further compounds. Total % % WU 0 % WU 0 % WU 1 % WU 1 % WU 2 % WU 2 WU 0 to 2 Compound DAA AM DAA PM DAA AM DAA PM DAA AM DAA PM DAA DMSO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Quinabactin −22 −23 −17 −15 −12 −11 −16 1.004 −40.5 −36.4 −28.7 −23.2 −18 −12.9 −25 1.025 −27.2 −31.9 −25.6 −23.1 −15.8 −13.6 −22.1 1.178 −44.8 −50.9 −52.1 −47.2 −41.7 −36.5 −45.4 1.213 −42.4 −48.1 −52.6 −46.5 −45.7 −38.7 −45.8 1.220 −48.3 −56 −55.7 −52.4 −47.5 −44.6 −50.5 9.004 −7 −3 −2 0.1 0 0.5 −1.4 8.004 −5.5 −0.1 −1.2 1.7 −0.4 1 −0.7 5.004 −21.6 −14 0.1 2.4 2.8 3.9 −3

B) Increased Water Use Efficiency (WU) in Corn

Compounds were tested for their effect on reducing plant water use as follows. The compounds were applied by foliar spray to 12 day old corn plants (variety NK OCTET) grown in controlled environment plant growth chambers. All compounds were applied using an emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulation that was diluted to the desired concentrations with water containing 0.4% of the adjuvant rape seed methyl ester. Plant water use during the day was assessed by repeated weighing of the pots in which the plants were grown before and after application of the compounds at the indicated times (expressed in days after application (DAA)). The water use data before application was used to correct any differences in water use arising due to non-treatment effects (e.g. due to differences in plant size). The untransformed water use values were subjected to an analysis of covariance, fitting the effect of treatment and using the baseline water use 1 day before application as a covariate.

Application of the chemicals (0 DAA) takes place approximately between 8 to 9:30 a.m. WU is measured within day time (chamber light is on 6:00 to 20:00) at these timepoints: 0 DAA AM (10:30-12:50) and 0 DAA PM (14:00-19:50), 1 DAA AM (7:30-12:50) and 1 DAA PM (14:00-19:50) and 2 DAA AM (7:30-12:50). The cumulative total WU (0-2 DAA) is calculated by summing the WU data mentioned above.

TABLE B3 Percent increase or decrease of water use (WU) of corn plants sprayed with the indicated chemicals at 500 μM compared to a negative control treatment (e.g. 0 = identical to negative control; −5.0 = 5.0% decrease of WU compared to negative control treatment). Average WU values of 6 pots (each with three plants) per treatment are shown. % WU 0 % WU 0 % WU 1 % WU 1 % WU 2 % WU 2 Total % DAA DAA DAA DAA DAA DAA WU 0 to 2 Compound AM PM AM PM AM PM DAA 1.004 −17.9 −12.4 −12.4 −12.1 −9.8 −10.2 −11.8 1.178 −18.5 −13 −11.2 −9.2 −6.5 −5.8 −9.7 1.213 −18.2 −15.5 −13.4 −11.2 −7.9 −7 −11.4 1.220 −32.6 −35.1 −18.2 −14.1 −8.7 −9 −17.8 5.004 −8.9 −8.8 −5.6 −5.9 −1.7 −2.3 −4.9

C) PP2C Activity Assay

The protein HAB1, a type 2 protein phosphatase (PP2C), is inhibited by PYR/PYL proteins in dependence of abscisic acid or other receptor agonists. The potency of a receptor agonists correlates with the level of inhibition of the PP2C, and therefore the IC50 (PYR1-HAB1) can be used to compare the relative activity of different chemical analogues. Since inhibition of PP2C correlates to inhibition of seed-germination and increase in plant water-use efficiency, it serves as a powerful tool to quantify biological potential of a chemical acting as an analogue of abscisic acid.

HAB1 and PYL proteins were expressed and purified as described in Park et al. ((2009) Science 324(5930):1068-1071), with minor modifications. To obtain GST-HAB1, the HAB1 cDNA was cloned into pGex-2T. Expression was conducted in BL21[DE3]pLysS host cells. Transformed cells were pre-cultured overnight, transferred to LB medium and cultured at 30° C. to culture A600 of ˜0.5.

The culture was then cooled on ice and MnCl2 added to 4 mM and IPTG added to 0.3 mM. After 16 hours incubation at 15° C., cells were harvested and recombinant proteins were purified on glutathione agarose as described in Park et al. To obtain 6XHis-PYL receptor fusion proteins, expression constructs previously described by Okamoto et al. 2013, (PNAS 110(29): 12132-12137) were used. ABA receptors were expressed and purified as described above.

For the values shown in Table B5, PP2C activity assays using recombinant receptors and PP2Cs were carried out as follows: purified proteins were pre-incubated in 160 μl assay buffer containing 100 mM Tris-HCl-pH7.9, 100 mM NaCl, 3 μg bovine serum albumin, 0.1% 2-mercaptoethanol, 1 mM MnCl₂ with ABA or agonists (compounds of the present invention) for 30 minutes at room temperature. Reactions were started by adding 40 μL of a reaction solution containing 25 mM 4-nitrophenyl phosphate in assay buffer after which absorbance measurements were immediately collected using a 405 nm on Wallac plate reader. Reactions contained 100 nM PP2C and 200 nM PYR/PYL proteins. Some quinabactin analogs possess intrinsic fluorescence, which necessitated the use of the non-fluorescent substrate 4-nitrophenol phosphate for phosphatase assays. For inferring IC₅₀ values, calculations from receptor/PP2C assays containing different concentrations (ranging from 1 μM to 4 nM) were. The obtained dose response data was fit to a log (inhibitor) versus response-(variable slope) model using non-linear regression to infer the IC₅₀s, using Graph Pad Prism 6.0.

TABLE B5 Inhibition of PYR1 and PYL2. IC50 of inhibition IC50 of inhibition of PYR1-HAB1 of PYL2-HAB1 Compounds (nM) (nM) Quinabactin 104 262 1.004 51 177 1.025 83 114 1.178 200 101 1.179 82 64 1.214 28 130 1.178 200 101 1.213 21 244 1.220 71 16 9.004 97 >1000

The results show that compounds of the present invention result in better inhibition of PP2C than quinabactin.

C) Arabidopsis Germination Inhibition Analysis

To analyse the effect of compounds on inhibition of germination, Arabidopsis seeds after-ripened for about 4 weeks were surface-sterilized with a solution containing 5% NaClO and 0.05% Tween-20 for 10 minutes, and rinsed with water four times. Sterilized seeds were suspended with 0.1% agar and sowed on 0.8% solidified agar medium containing ½ Murashige and Skoog (MS) salts (Sigma-Aldrich) in the presence of the relevant treatment, stored at 4° C. for 4 days, and then transferred to 22° C. under the dark conditions. Germination was assessed after 3 days.

TABLE B6 Percent germination of Arabidopsis seeds % germi- % nation germination Compound at 1 μM at 5 μM

46 0

42 0

The results show that compounds of the present invention resulted in a better inhibition of germination of Arabidopsis than quinabactin.

It is understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are included within the spirit and purview of this application and are considered within the scope of the appended claims. All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes. 

1. A compound of Formula (I):

wherein: R1 is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, cyano-alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy-alkyl, haloalkoxy-alkyl, cycloalkyl-alkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkynyl, and heterocycloalkyl; or R1 is selected from alkyl-aryl, cycloalkyl, phenyl and heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to three Rx; each Rx is independently selected from halogen, cyano, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylsulfanyl, haloalkylsulfanyl, alkylsulfinyl, haloalkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, haloalkylsulfonyl and cycloalkyl; R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy and cycloalkyl; R2a and R2b, or R2a and R3a, together with the atom to which they are attached, are optionally joined to form a cycloalkyl; L is selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy and alkoxy-alkyl, each optionally substituted with one to three moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano, alkyl and alkoxy; A is cycloalkyl optionally substituted with one to four Ry; each Ry is independently selected from halogen, cyano, nitro, alkyl, haloalkyl, —OH, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylsulfanyl, haloalkylsulfanyl, alkylsulfinyl, haloalkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, haloalkylsulfonyl, cycloalkyl, ═O, ═N—OH, —N═OMe, COOH, COOR9, CONHR9, CONR9aR9 and NHCOR9, with the proviso that when one or more Ry is ═O, ═N—OH or —N═OMe, A is not C₃ cycloalkyl; R9 and R9a are independently alkyl; each R8 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylsulfanyl, haloalkylsulfanyl, alkylsulfinyl, haloalkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, haloalkylsulfonyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkynyl, cycloalkyl and alkoxy-alkyl; n is selected from 1, 2, and 3; or salts or N-oxides thereof.
 2. The compound according to claim 1, wherein each Rx is independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl and C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl.
 3. The compound according to claim 1, wherein each Rx is independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy, C₁-C₃ haloalkoxy and C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl.
 4. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R1 is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, cyano-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkyl-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₃ haloalkoxy-C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkynyl, and C₄-C₅ heterocycloalkyl; or R1 is selected from C₁-C₄ alkyl-aryl, C₃-C₅ cycloalkyl, phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to three Rx.
 5. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R1 is selected from C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl, phenyl and 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl, each optionally substituted with one to three Rx; or R1 is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₆ haloalkyl, C₁-C₃ alkoxy-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₁-haloalkoxy-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₃ alkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl and C₂-C₆ alkynyl.
 6. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R1 is C₁-C₆ alkyl.
 7. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₂-C₄ alkenyl, C₂-C₄ alkynyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl; R2a and R2b, or R2a and R3a, together with the atom to which they are attached, are optionally joined to form a C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl.
 8. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4 and R5 are each hydrogen.
 9. The compound according to claim 1, wherein R6 is selected from hydrogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl.
 10. The compound according to claim 1, wherein at least one of R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, R5 and R6 is not hydrogen.
 11. The compound according to claim 1, wherein L is selected from C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₂-C₄ alkenyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₂ alkoxy-C₁-C₂ alkyl, each optionally substituted with one to three moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl and C₁-C₄ alkoxy.
 12. The compound according to claim 1, wherein L is C₁-C₂ alkyl optionally substituted with one or two moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano and C₁-C₂ alkyl.
 13. The compound according to claim 1, wherein L is C₁-C₂ alkyl.
 14. The compound according to claim 1, wherein each Ry is independently selected from halogen, cyano, nitro, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, —OH, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfanyl, haloalkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl, C₃-C₄ cycloalkyl, ═O, ═N—OH, —N═OMe, COOH, COOR9, CONHR9, CONR9aR9 and NHCOR9, with the proviso that when one or more Ry is ═O, ═N—OH or —N═OMe, A is not C₃ cycloalkyl; R9 and R9a are independently C₁-C₄ alkyl.
 15. The compound according to claim 1, wherein each Ry is independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, —OH, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkyl.
 16. The compound according to claim 1, wherein A is C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl optionally substituted with one to four Ry.
 17. The compound according to claim 1, wherein A is cyclopropyl optionally substituted with one to four moieties independently selected from halogen, cyano, C₁-C₂ alkyl and C₁-C₂ haloalkyl.
 18. The compound according to claim 1, wherein each R8 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfanyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, C₂-C₆ haloalkynyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl and C₁-C₄ alkoxy-C₁-C₄ alkyl.
 19. The compound according to claim 1, wherein each R8 is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen and C₁-C₄ alkyl; and n is selected from 1 and
 2. 20. A composition comprising a compound as defined in claim 1, and an agriculturally acceptable formulation adjuvant.
 21. A mixture comprising a compound as defined in claim 1, and a further active ingredient.
 22. A method for improving the tolerance of a plant to abiotic stress, wherein the method comprises applying to the plant, plant part, plant propagation material, or plant growing locus a compound according to claim 1, a composition according to claim 20, or a mixture according to claim
 21. 23. A method for inhibiting seed germination of a plant, wherein the method comprises applying to the seed or a locus containing seeds a compound according to claim 1, a composition according to claim 20, or a mixture according to claim
 21. 24. A method for regulating or improving the growth of a plant, wherein the method comprises applying to the plant, plant part, plant propagation material, or plant growing locus a compound according to claim 1, a composition according to claim 20, or a mixture according to claim
 21. 25. A method for safening a plant against phytotoxic effects of chemicals, comprising applying to the plant, plant part, plant propagation material, or plant growing locus a compound, according to claim 1, a composition according to claim 20, or a mixture according to claim
 21. 